Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe was re-elected as Japan’s prime minister Wednesday following his ruling bloc’s overwhelming victory in the lower house election last month, pledging to maximize pressure on North Korea in cooperation with the international community. Abe’s inauguration and the re-appointment of…
Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe was re-elected as Japan’s prime minister Wednesday following his ruling bloc’s overwhelming victory in the lower house election last month, pledging to maximize pressure on North Korea in cooperation with the international community.
Abe’s inauguration and the re-appointment of all 19 members of his cabinet, which was reshuffled in early August, comes just days before U. S President Trump arrives on a three-day visit to Japan, with talks between the Japanese and U. S. leaders expected to focus on Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile threats.
“Dialogue for dialogue is meaningless. We have to maximize pressure to create a situation in which North Korea calls for dialogue,” Abe told a press conference at his office after his fourth cabinet was formally launched.
Abe, who has been Japan’s leader for nearly five years, was re-elected earlier in the day by voting in both the upper and lower houses of the Diet on the first day of a special parliament session through Dec 9.
Abe reiterated the Japanese government supports Trump’s “all options are on the table” stance in dealing with North Korea.
“I want us to take sufficient time to analyze the latest information on North Korea, discuss in detail what we will do, and confirm that we will work in closer coordination toward the prompt resolution of the nuclear, missile and abduction issues,” Abe said.
The 63-year-old prime minister has pledged to pull Japan out of its decades-long deflation with his “Abenomics” economic policy mix, while seeking to promote debate over a first-ever revision to Japan’s Constitution.
