SEOUL - South Korea's foreign ministry summoned the ambassador to Japanese Koro Bessho on Thursday morning to convey "strong regrets" over Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's remark and controversial shrine visits, the local media reported.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se Monday called off his scheduled visit to Japan due to visits from some Japanese cabinet members to a controversial shrine on Sunday.

Despite strong protests from neighboring countries, a group of 169 Japanese lawmakers on Tuesday visited the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, which honors convicted war criminals together with the country's victims during World War II.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made his remarks about doubtful of the definition of "invasion" on Tuesday, according to Yonhap News Agency.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye urged Japan to have a correct attitude to history on Wednesday.