The White House welcomed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's statement Friday expressing remorse over the country's wartime actions, but influential U.S. news outlets criticized Abe for failing to apologize in his own words.

"We welcome Prime Minister Abe's expression of deep remorse for the suffering caused by Japan during the World War II era," National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said, referring to the statement Abe released Friday marking the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender in the war.

Price commended Abe for "his commitment to uphold past Japanese government statements on history."