Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe argued Tuesday that only historians -- and not contemporary politicians -- will eventually make the correct call on how Japanese Class-A war criminals should be judged.
Abe declined to comment on the issue despite growing concerns in China and South Korea over the view of history held by the newly appointed hawkish government secretary.
"Once (the late) Prime Minister Ohira said that it's a matter that historians should judge. I cannot agree with him more," Abe told a regular news conference Tuesday afternoon.