Members of the Diet of Japan visit the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Dec. 7, 2021. (Photo: AP-Yonhap)
A group of 99 Japanese lawmakers have visited the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, a war memorial regarded by South Korea and China as a symbol of Japanese militarism.
Many of the lawmakers who went to the shrine Tuesday are members of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's conservative governing party.
It was the first time the group has prayed at Yasukuni amid the pandemic.
The visit also coincided with the 80th anniversary of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry expressed "deep concern and regret" in response to the "large-scale" visit.
In a statement it said Japan should show "humble reflection and sincere remorse" about its wartime aggression to win back the trust of the international community.
Please send comments to tbsefmnews@gmail.com / copyright © tbs. Unauthorized redistribution prohibited.