Japan Replaces Foreign, Defense Ministers

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida replaced the ministers of defense and foreign affairs, on Wednesday, in a major cabinet reshuffle.

In addition, Kishida supported the presence of women in his cabinet members.

The announcement of those two ministers came as North Korea fired two ballistic missiles and tensions with China.

It was reported that these moves of cabinet changes were motivated by internal party politics.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi was replaced by former Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa. 

She becomes among the five appointed women in the new cabinet, Government Spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.

Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada was replaced by Minoru Kihara who previously served as parliamentary secretary of defence.

The reshuffle included the reappointment of Shunichi Suzuki as Finance Minister.

Farm Minister Tetsuro Nomura, who described the treated water released from the stricken Fukushima plant as "contaminated water", was replaced by Ichiro Miyashita.

Kishida said, Sunday, that he planned to "implement a bold economic package" to address the impact of the prices on people as their support to the government fell due to the economic prices.

Public support for the Kishida government was 36% against 43 percent who disapproved of the presence of the government according to the latest poll released Monday by national broadcaster NHK.