South Korea voiced "deep regret" Thursday after Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sent an offering to a war shrine in Tokyo seen as a symbol of its militaristic past. Japanese media reported that Ishiba sent a ritual offering to the Yasukuni Shrine in celebration of the autumn festival, the first such offering since he became the prime minister on Oct. 1. "We express deep disappointment and regret that responsible leaders in Japan have once again offered tribute or visited the Yasukuni Shrine," foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said in a commentary. "We urge the leaders of the new Japanese cabinet to squarely face history and show through action humble reflection and genuine atonement for past wrongdoings," Lee said. Japan's actions will be the foundation for building a future-oriented bilateral relationship between South Korea and Japan, he added. The shrine honors Japan's war dead, including 14 Class A war criminals from World War II. South Korea and China view visits to the shrine by J apanese leaders as an attempt to glorify the country's militaristic past. Source: Yonhap News Agency