Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declined on Monday to comment on a claim by U.S. President Donald Trump that he'd nominated the American leader for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, but did not deny the assertion, instead praising Trump's efforts to defuse the North Korean nuclear crisis.

"I'm not saying it's untrue," Abe told a Budget Committee session of the Lower House.

"The Nobel committee doesn't reveal who submits nominations, or those who were nominated, for fifty years. In accordance with this policy, I'd like to refrain from commenting," he added.