The Latest on Japan’s prime minister dissolving parliament to call elections (all times local):
TOKYO — The Latest on Japan’s prime minister dissolving parliament to call elections (all times local):
5:30 p.m.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, who launched a new political party to challenge Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling party, says she will continue to pursue her responsibility as head of the city, denying speculation she might run in the upcoming lower house election.
Koike said at a news conference on Thursday that “I will stay in the city and put my energy to lead Tokyo’s preparations ahead of the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics.”
Koike, who served in top posts in the ruling party and its government before becoming Tokyo’s governor, led her local party to a landslide victory in the July city assembly election, dealing Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party a crushing defeat.
Abe dissolved the lower house of parliament on Thursday and called an election on Oct. 22.
12:30 p.m.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will seek a public mandate on his tougher diplomatic and defense policies to deal with escalating threats from North Korea.
