N. Korea notes hawkish tone in Japan

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PYONGYANG, North Korea, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- North Korea acknowledged the landslide election victory of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party and the hawkish stance of its next prime minister.

"The shift to the right and the rise of militarism in Japanese society have reached a serious stage," said the Rodong Sinmun, the ruling Worker's Party of Korea newspaper, in a news analysis Monday.

It was the first reference by the North Korean media to the Dec. 16 election of Japan's House of Representatives and to the nationalistic defense policy of its leader, Shinzo Abe, the Japanese news agency Kyodo reported Monday.

The House is expected to re-elect Abe as prime minster Wednesday, Kyodo said. He was previously prime minister from September 2006 to September 2007.