SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's foreign ministry expressed its deep worry Thursday about Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ritual offering to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine.

The ministry said in a statement that the government cannot help expressing deep worry and disappointment over the repeated ritual offering and tribute by the leaders of the Japanese government and parliament to the shrine.

The shrine "beautifies" the Japanese history of invasion and colonization, the ministry said.

The statement came a day after Abe delivered his tree offering to the shrine, which honors 14 Class-A convicted war criminals among 2.5 million Japanese war dead from World War II.

The Seoul ministry urged Japanese politicians to show their repentance over Japan's past wrongdoings in a humble and serious manner based on the correct perception of history.

It would lead Japan to gain trust from neighboring countries and contribute to the future-oriented relations between South Korea and Japan, the ministry noted. Enditem