criticism from China, South Korea

Japan marks end of World War II; Shinzo Abe draws criticism from China, South Korea

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Japan has marked the 70th anniversary of the end of the World War II under criticism from neighbours China and South Korea, which said prime minister Shinzo Abe's speech failed to properly apologise for Tokyo's past aggression.

In a move likely to further strain relations with its neighbours, a group of politicians including cabinet ministers visited the controversial Yasukuni shrine.

Neighbouring countries see the shrine as an ugly symbol of Japan's militarist past.

Mr Abe sent a ritual cash offering to Yasukuni for war dead but did not visit.

"I paid respects to the souls of those who sacrificed their precious lives in the past war," Mr Abe's aide Koichi Hagiuda said, adding he was visiting on behalf of Mr Abe in the premier's role as head of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Memorial services on the day Japan surrendered to the Allies in 1945 came after Mr Abe on Friday delivered a closely watched war anniversary speech that expressed regret but also said future generations need not apologise for Japan's war record.

His remarks were welcomed by the United States but blasted by China as a non-apology, while South Korea derided it as "an unpardonable mockery of the Korean people".

China urged Japan to "take concrete actions to gain the trust of its Asian neighbours and the global community".

South Korean president Park Geun-Hye Mr Abe's speech "left much to be desired" and contained "regrettable elements", but did not elaborate on what those elements were.

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