Today, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe marked the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender ending World War II. He upheld past apologies made by the country's government but he did not issue a new one.

China and South Korea, which suffered under Japanese occupation during the war, say that country has never fully atoned for its conduct during the war. How does a country do that, and should it?

Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson talks with international relations professor Thomas Berger about when and why a country should apologize for its actions.

Guest