Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Sanae Takaichi visits Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Saturday (Photo: AFP)

(VOVworld) - Two Japanese ministers visited the controversial war shrine of Yasukuni in Tokyo Saturday.
Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Sanae Takaichi and National Public Safety Commission chief Eriko Yamatani are the first cabinet ministers to visit the shrine in the autumn festival.
The visit took place a day after a pilgrimage by 110 lawmakers to the spot and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s offering of a potted tree with his name and title prominently displayed.
The move has further irritated China and the Republic of Korea. Seoul considered the visits by Japanese parliamentarians the ignorance of criticism by neighboring countries and the international community. Hong Lei, a spokesperson for Chinese Foreign Ministry, asked to properly deal with the issues with a responsible attitude, honor its commitments on historical issues.