South Korea, China react sharply to Japan leaders' offerings to Yasukuni Shrine

South Korea and China have criticized Japanese leaders for sending offerings to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo for its autumn festival.

The shrine honors Japan's war dead. Those remembered include leaders convicted of war crimes after World War Two.

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru sent a potted plant to the shrine on Friday, the first day of the three-day festival.

The new leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Takaichi Sanae, sent a cash offering through a proxy, using her personal funds.

South Korea's foreign ministry issued a spokesperson's statement on Friday.

In the statement, the South Korean government expressed "deep disappointment and regret over the fact that responsible leaders of Japan have once again sent offerings to and repeatedly visited Yasukuni Shrine, which glorifies Japan's war of aggression and enshrines war criminals."

It went on to say that it calls on Japan's responsible leaders to face up to history and show "humble reflection and true remorse for past history."

The statement said this is an important foundation for building future-oriented relations between South Korea and Japan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian called Yasukuni Shrine a symbol of wars of aggression waged by Japanese militarists.

The spokesperson said that China "firmly opposes Japan's passive actions concerning Yasukuni Shrine and has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side."

He said that China urges Japan to "face and reflect on its history of aggression, refrain from making remarks on historical issues such as Yasukuni Shrine" and "gain the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community by taking actual action."