Abe to Reshuffle Cabinet on Tuesday

September 27, 2018

New York- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday he will reshuffle his cabinet and the leadership team of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Tuesday.

Meeting the press in New York, the prime minister said he will retain in his cabinet Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, as well as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries Yasutoshi Nishimura and Kotaro Nogami.

"The LDP is a treasure house of human resources," Abe said.

"I will make the stage for as many of my colleagues as possible," he added, suggesting that the upcoming reshuffle may be substantial.

Commenting on a possible second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Abe expressed hope that progress will be made in the negotiations on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

"The talks will be held under the notion that major progress must be made," he said. "North Korea is standing at a crossroads of whether it can grab a historic opportunity."

The prime minister said he too is ready to come face to face with Kim.

His comment followed media reports that South Korean President Moon Jae-in conveyed to Abe, during their meeting here on Tuesday, Kim's readiness for talks with the prime minister.

Abe visited New York to attend a U.N. General Assembly session. Jiji Press