South Korea has urged Japan to demonstrate “sincere remorse” through action after 94 Japanese lawmakers visited the Yasukuni Shrine, seen by neighboring countries as a symbol of Japan’s militaristic past. The suprapartisan group paid their respects at the shrine, which honors Japan’s war dead including 14 Class A war criminals from World War II, on the occasion of its spring festival.

The visit drew strong criticism from Seoul, with foreign ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk calling on Japanese leaders to “squarely face history” and show humble reflection on the country’s past actions. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a ritual offering on Sunday, sending a potted plant with a wooden plaque bearing his name and official title, which had earlier elicited "deep disappointment and regret" from the South Korean government.