Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will likely visit a controversial war shrine by the end of the year despite opposition by China, a close aide said, AFP reported.

"I do not know the date but I think he will pay homage to Yasukuni Shrine within this year," said Taku Yamasaki, former vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and close aide to Koizumi.

"I think he will not change his political belief," Yamasaki said in a talk show on the private Fuji television network.

On taking office in 2001, Koizumi pledged to pray annually at the Tokyo shrine which honors 2.5 million Japanese war dead including 14 top convicted war criminals. He has so far kept the promise, with his last visit on January 1, 2004, and indicated he would go sometime this year.

After a landslide election victory this month, Koizumi indicated no change in his stance, saying he would "make a decision appropriately" on whether to make a pilgrimage this year.

The visits have infuriated neighboring China and South Korea, which were invaded by Japan in the first half of the 20th century and see Yasukuni as a symbol of militarism.

Yamasaki said Japan "must find a way to improve diplomatic ties with China even if the prime minister goes (to Yasukuni)."

But he also acknowledged it would not be easy with the shrine opposed to the idea of separating the 14 top war criminals for veneration elsewhere.

"Yasukuni Shrine is adamant (in opposing the separation). Honestly speaking, we have almost given up," he said, while noting it would take time to build a new national memorial.

Source: CD/Agencies