Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday issued a much-awaited statement about World War II in which he spoke of "deep remorse" over Japan's wartime misdeeds.

"Japan has repeatedly expressed the feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology for its action during the war. . . . Such (a) position articulated by the previous Cabinets will remain unshakable into the future," Abe said in the official English translation of the statement.

His choice of words was apparently aimed at calming critics because the closely observed text included four phrases used in earlier war apology statements: "heartfelt apology" and "deep remorse," "colonial rule" and "aggression."