Japan defence minister out in cabinet reshuffle: media

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is replacing his defence minister in a cabinet reshuffle that otherwise leaves key government positions largely unchanged, local media said Tuesday.

The final line-up for the new cabinet is expected to be announced later Tuesday, but local media reported Abe was replacing Itsunori Onodera, defence minister since August 2017.

Onodera, seen as a defence expert, will reportedly be succeeded by Takeshi Iwaya, 61, a veteran politician who has had short stints in roles including vice minister for defence and foreign affairs.

The reshuffle follows Abe's reelection as leader of his Liberal Democratic Party last month, which puts him on track to become Japan's longest-serving prime minister in history.

Iwaya is expected to take over as Japan eyes the threat posed by North Korea despite easing tensions on the Korean peninsula and international negotiations on Pyongyang's denuclearisation.

In an annual defence review released in August, the defence ministry said