Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is unlikely to visit the war-related Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, the anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II, both Kyodo News and Jiji Press, the two major Japanese news agencies, reported on Thursday.

"There had been no plans for Abe to visit the shrine on Aug. 15 anyway," Kyodo quoted one of the sources as saying.

When meeting reporters later in the day, the prime minister again refused to say whether or not he will visit the controversial shrine.

The Abe administration's leadership decreased dramatically following the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)'s unprecedented defeat in the upper house election on July 29. In this circumstance, a visit to the Yasukuni would definitely draw opposition from the New Komeito Party, the LDP's minor coalition partner, and further undermine the political stability, analysts here said.

Furthermore, Abe will not infuriate China since he has clearly expressed to Chinese leaders his intention to visit China by the end of this year, the reports said.

Abe was widely praised in Japan for his choosing China as the first stop of his official visit after taking office in last September. His China tour turned to be a new start of the Japan-China political relationship after about five years of stagnation due to former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to the notorious shrine.

Editor: Donald