Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday that ties with the United States would not be hurt if a U.S. congressional committee passes a resolution urging Japan to officially acknowledge and apologize for wartime sexual slavery.

"I am confident that our bilateral relations are unshakable," Abe said in an interview with Japanese media. "We have confirmed that Japan-U.S. relations are irreplaceable and unshakable."

Abe was responding to a question about the probable diplomatic impact of the passage, expected next Tuesday, of the resolution by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The resolution is then expected to be sent to the full House.

The nonbinding resolution calls for Japan to "formally acknowledge, apologize and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner" for the women's ordeal. Tokyo objects to the resolution, saying it is not based on historical fact.