US declines criticism of Koizumi shrine visit

WASHINGTON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - The White House today declined to join in criticism of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to a shrine for war dead, calling it an internal Japanese matter.

Koizumi, a close ally of President George W Bush, today paid his respects at Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine for war dead.

the anniversary of his country's World War Two surrender, defying warnings from China and South Korea not to go.

White House spokesman Dana Perino called Koizumi's visit to the shrine an ''internal Japanese matter that we're not going to weigh in on.'' Asked about criticism of the move by China and South Korea, Perino said: ''We understand that there are historical, complex issues in Asia and we would hope that the region would be able to work together cooperatively to address those.'' Bush and Koizumi have developed a close working relationship and personal friendship. Bush took Koizumi to Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion June 30 to celebrate the Japanese leader's love of the late singer's music.

REUTERS SP VC2110