Observers and leading media voiced support on Wednesday after two former political leaders who previously apologized over Japan's World War II atrocities said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should not water down their words when he makes a key speech later this year.

Japanese leaders' statements marking the end of the war on Aug 15 have always been closely watched. This year, the 70th anniversary, Abe has been getting extra attention because it's a key anniversary and he is widely considered a revisionist.

On Tuesday, former prime minister Tomiichi Murayama, who authored Japan's landmark 1995 apology on the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, said Abe should "honestly spell out" the country's wartime actions to address growing international concern that he might revise history.