TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declined on Monday to say if he had nominated US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, though he also emphasized he did not deny doing so.

Trump's assertion on Friday that Abe had nominated him for the honor and sent him a copy of the letter has raised criticism in Japan.

Questioned in parliament about reports he had done so, Abe said: "In light of the Nobel Committee's policy of not disclosing recommenders and nominees for 50 years, I decline to comment."

However, neither the prime minister nor his spokesman denied Trump's comment.

"I never said I didn't" nominate him, Abe said in a response to a follow up question by Yuichiro Tamaki, a lawmaker for the opposition Democratic Party for the People.

Tamaki said on Monday that given the lack of progress on various issues with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea that he was concerned such a nomination would "send the wrong message to North Korea (the DPRK) and the rest of international society".

In responding to Tamaki's questions in parliament, Abe praised Trump, saying he "has been decisively responding toward resolving DPRK's nuclear and missile problems, and last year he held historic US-DPRK summit talks".

"I highly praise President Trump's leadership," Abe said.

Trump's claim that Abe had sent him a "beautiful copy" of a letter sent to the Nobel committee could not be immediately verified.

The government's top spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, echoed Abe's remarks in refusing further comment.

The Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported on Sunday, citing unnamed government sources, that Abe had nominated Trump's at the president's request.

The deadline each year for nominations is midnight, Jan 31. According to the website of the Nobel committee, there are 304 candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2019.

The United States is Japan's ally and anchor for national defense and Abe has assiduously cultivated cordial ties with Trump. He was the first foreign leader to meet with Trump after he won the 2016 presidential election.

The Nobel Committee chooses the recipient of the prize in early October by a majority vote and then announces that choice. The prize is awarded on Dec 10 in Norway.

Associated Press