TOKYO, March 6 (UPI) -- Japan's foreign minister will resign over an illegal campaign contribution, a source told the Kyodo news service.
Seiji Maehara has been under fire over the donation and his pending resignation is a blow to Prime Minister Naoto Kan's government, Kyodo said Sunday.
Maehara is a close ally of Kan and his departure would come just two months after a major reshuffling of Kan's cabinet.
Maehara appeared to have violated Japanese campaign laws by accepting 50,000 yen from a South Korean national who lives in Japan. The minister has admitted he took the money from the Korean woman, whom he said he has known since childhood.
There was no word on when the formal resignation would be announced; however, Maehara paid a visit to the premier's office Sunday evening, Kyodo said.
