TOKYO (Kyodo) -- An erroneous report by Japan's Kyodo News claiming that House of Councillors lawmaker Akiko Ikuina visited the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo was "extremely regrettable," the top government spokesman said Tuesday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference that the report had had a negative impact on an event held Sunday on Sado Island to commemorate Japanese and Korean victims who worked at a gold and silver mine complex.

Hayashi's remarks came a day after Japan's largest news agency admitted to releasing a story saying that Ikuina, a former actress, visited the shrine on Aug. 15, 2022, without directly confirming it with her. She had not actually done so.

Ikuina, now serving as a parliamentary vice foreign minister, attended the event on the island in the Sea of Japan. But South Korean officials were absent, saying they had failed to reach a consensus on the ceremony with Japan.

On Tuesday, Kyodo News President Toru Mizutani met with Vice Minister Masataka Okano at the Foreign Ministry and apologized for the erroneous report, acknowledging that it had affected Japan-South Korea ties.

Visits to the shrine, seen as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism, by politicians have drawn a sharp rebuke from neighboring countries. Japan ruled the Korean Peninsula from 1910 and 1945.

Hayashi said the Japanese government, led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, plans to demand an explanation from Kyodo News regarding the false report, as it could influence the future of relations between the two Asian nations.

The South Korean government, however, said later Tuesday that its foreign minister and Japan's counterpart have agreed to work together to prevent the issue from disrupting their diplomatic relationship.

The ministers met on the sidelines of the Group of Seven foreign ministerial meeting in Italy. South Korea is not a member of the G7 but has been invited to attend as a guest.

Sado's gold and silver mine complex was added to UNESCO's World Heritage list in July, although South Korea initially objected, citing links to wartime forced labor. The country later agreed after Japan pledged to hold annual memorial events.

Instead of participating in Sunday's event, South Korean officials and family members of the victims held a separate memorial service on Sado Island the following day. The South Korean Foreign Ministry said Tuesday their absence was due to "Japan's attitude."

South Korea, however, did not elaborate on the details of the matter, while urging Japan to maintain close communication to avoid bilateral tensions, as ties have improved since conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol took office in 2022.

Yasukuni added 14 Class-A war criminals, including wartime Prime Minister Gen. Hideki Tojo, to the enshrined deities in 1978, stirring controversy at home and abroad. Tojo was executed by hanging for crimes against peace.