Japanese lawmakers visit the Yasukuni Shrine at the end of the spring festival, in Tokyo, April 23. Yonhap

Korea urged Japan on Tuesday to demonstrate its "sincere remorse" through action after a group of Japanese politicians paid a visit to a war shrine seen as a symbol of Japan's militaristic past.

A suprapartisan group of 94 lawmakers visited the Yasukuni Shrine on the occasion of its spring festival earlier in the day, according to Japan's Kyodo News.

"The government strongly urges the leaders of Japan to squarely face history and demonstrate through action their humble reflection and sincere remorse for Japan's past history," foreign ministry spokesperson, Lim Soo-suk, told a regular press briefing.

On Sunday, Lim also released a commentary voicing "deep regrets" after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sent a ceremonial tree to the shrine.

The shrine honors Japan's war dead, including 14 Class A war criminals from World War II. Neighboring countries like Korea and China view visits to the shrine by Japanese leaders as an attempt to glorify the country's militaristic past. (Yonhap)