SEOUL, Jan. 2 -- South Korea's top diplomat repeated his condemnation of Japanese politicians for their visit to the controversial war shrine, describing the visit as a big stumbling block to peace and cooperation in the region.

"As seen in the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, the history-revisionist attitude of Japan's political leadership brought isolation upon itself and served as a big stumbling block to peace and cooperation in Northeast Asia," Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said in his New Year's message on Thursday.

His comments came after Abe paid respect to the notorious war shrine on Dec. 26 for the first time in about seven years as the incumbent Japanese prime minister.

The shrine has been seen as a symbol of Japan's war of aggression and colonial rule as it enshrines war criminals, including Hideki Tojo who plunged East Asia into a devastating war and Kuniaki Koiso who, as governor-general of the country during the colonial rule, pillaged South Korea through coerced conscription, forced labor and extortion.

Japan's Internal Affairs Minister Yoshitaka Shindo paid a visit to the war shrine again on Wednesday, triggering a strong backlash from China and South Korea.

"Our government's stance on the Yasukuni Shrine is crystal clear," Seoul's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Cho Tai-young told a routine press briefing on Thursday. "Repeatedly saying, the visit is reflecting a wrong perception of history (of Japanese politicians)."

Cho stressed that the Japanese politicians must not visit the war-linked shrine, urging them to show their sincerity toward the right perception of history and convert the perception into action.

The spokesman said South Korea has hoped for improved ties with Japan, noting that Tokyo should ponder about who has caused frosty relations between the two nations.