Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi presents ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has presented a ritual offering to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine to mark the start of its three-day autumn festival this year.

Takaichi today sent a potted plant called "masakaki" to the shrine in her capacity as prime minister.

Yasukuni Shrine located in central Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward has long been regarded as a symbol of Japan's militarism as it honours 2.46 million war dead, including 14 convicted Class-A war criminals from World War II.

Citing sources close to Takaichi, Kyodo News reported the conservative politician is unlikely to visit the shrine during the current festival, although she has made regular visits there before her premiership last year.

The Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy Minoru Kiuchi was the first of Takaichi's cabinet to visit Yasukuni Shrine during its autumn festival.

South Korea expressed deep disappointment and regret in a statement issued by its foreign ministry. Condemning Japanese officials' ritual offerings, Seoul prompts Tokyo to squarely face history and demonstrate through action its humble reflection and sincere remorse for past aggression.Yesterday, Takaishi publicly affirmed her commitment to the Murayama Statement issued in 1995 by former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, which contained remorse and apologies for Japan's colonial rule.

She reiterated at a session of the House of Councillors Budget Committee the positions of successive cabinets regarding historical perceptions will "not waver moving forward," and "the Murayama Statement is naturally included."

Yet she also stated there was room to consider words by Japan's former foreign minister Katsuya Okada, suggesting US nuclear-armed vessels could be allowed to port in Japan during a crisis.

To this, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning underscored on Friday there is no room for consideration for Japan to follow the postwar international order and honour its international obligations.

The spokesperson said the current Japanese administration has been turning a blind eye to its international obligations on non-proliferation and attempting to ditch the Three Non-Nuclear Principles.

She said such actions pose a serious threat to peace and stability in Asia and the wider world in her calls on Japan to abandon "remilitarisation."