Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se called on Japan Friday to take "sincere action" over the history issue.

Yun had phone talks with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida shortly after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued a war anniversary statement, a government official said.

The Japanese minister explained the background of Abe's wordings and stressed that the Abe administration will stick to the history perception held by its predecessors, the official told reporters on the condition of anonymity.

In response, Yun said his government is scrutinizing the new statement and it will soon issue its formal position.

"Minister Yun also emphasized the Japanese government's sincere action is important, most of all," the official said. (Yonhap)