South Korea expressed deep regret Wednesday over Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s sending of a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni war shrine.

Marking the 73rd anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II, Abe sent a cash donation earlier in the day, while some politicians visited the Tokyo shrine, which honors Japan’s war dead, including war criminals. 

“We call on Japanese politicians to take a sincere attitude of reflecting on and repenting for past history,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “We point out that, in that case, relations between South Korea and Japan will move forward in a future-oriented way and (Japan) can garner trust from neighboring countries.”

Abe visited the war shrine in December 2013, the first such visit by a Japanese prime minister since 2006, sparking fierce criticism from Seoul and Beijing, which have a shared history. He has sent a ritual offering to the shrine through his aides during festivals and on the war anniversary. (Yonhap)