Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has reaffirmed he will continue his annual visits to the Yasukuni Shrine.

According to reports from Tokyo, Koizumi said making the pilgrimage to the war shrine was based on his 'political beliefs' and that he never intends to stop his visit to the shrine.

Koizumi made the remarks Tuesday during a meeting with Japanese business leaders.

Since taking office in April, 2001, the Japanese leader has made an annual visit to the controversial war shrine that honors Japan's war dead, including 14 class-A war criminals who were convicted and executed following the end of the second World War.

Koizumi's latest comments are in contrast to his earlier remarks that he had visited the shrine in a "private" capacity "motivated by personal feelings."

Koizumi's earlier visits to the shrine have sparked storms of angry protests from South Korea, China and other Asian nations, which suffered Japanese military aggression and subsequent atrocities in the early 20th century.