TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has asked US President Barack Obama to look into the alleged spying activities on the Japanese government and companies raised by the Wikileaks website earlier this month, local media reported Wednesday.

During a 40-minute telephone conversation between the two leaders, Obama apologized to Abe and the Japanese government over the suspected eavesdropping by the National Security Agency.

Abe told Obama that if the spying allegations are "true, it could shake the relationship of trust between alliance partners," and that he has "no choice but to express our grave concern," according to Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihida Suga.

Obama said the US is taking appropriate actions based on a presidential directive in 2014 on collection of intelligence and that the US currently does not take any action that would hurt trust between the two countries, said Suga.

However, the top government spokesman did not say whether Obama admitted to US spying.

Earlier this month, Abe made similar remarks regarding the matter during a telephone conversation with US Vice President Joe Biden.