South Korea Protests Japanese Leaders Sending Offerings to Yasukuni Shrine

South Korea protested on Sunday against Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sending offerings to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, expressing "deep disappointment" and calling on Japanese leaders to show remorse for the country's wartime past. Beijing and Seoul consider the shrine a "symbol of Japan's militaristic aggression" as it honors 14 Japanese war leaders condemned by Allied courts as war criminals among 2.5 million war dead it commemorates. Previous offerings sent by Japanese leaders have sparked protests from both nations. According to Yonhap News Agency citing Japanese media, Kishida and some cabinet members sent offerings to the shrine today as part of customary rituals for the occasion. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that "the government expresses its deep disappointment and regret that Japanese leaders have once again sent offerings to or visited the Yasukuni Shrine, a shrine that glorifies Japan's aggressive war and honors war criminals." It added in a statement that "South Korea urges Japanese leaders to confront history directly, show humility, and express sincere repentance," which would be a crucial basis for improving relations between the two countries.