Two members of Japan's cabinet paid their respects Thursday at a Tokyo shrine seen as a symbol of the country's imperialistic past despite long-running protests from South Korea and China against such visits.

Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshitaka Shindo and Keizi Huruya, the minister in charge of North Korea's abduction of Japanese nationals, visited the Yasukuni Shrine that honors Japan's war dead, and includes class-A criminals.

Thursday was the anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II.

Shindo later told reporters that he made the visit as an individual, not as a cabinet member.

South Korea, China and other Asian nations have long resented visits to the shrine because the act is considered to glorify Japan's imperialistic past. (Yonhap News)