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N. Korean expert Nakayama to be construction minister
Japan Policy & Politics, Oct 11, 1999
TOKYO, Oct. 4 Kyodo
Masaaki Nakayama, who will become construction minister and National Land Agency chief, is an expert on North Korea.
As an authority on North Korea within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Nakayama has been contributing toward improving relations between Tokyo and Pyongyang, as well as toward resolving the alleged abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents.
Japanese police believe at least 10 Japanese nationals were abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s, charges that Pyongyang denies.
Nakayama previously belonged to the now-defunct hawkish LDP group "Seirankai," and had a strong image of an anti-Communist fighter.
During policy negotiations toward establishing the coalition between the LDP and the Liberal Party, Nakayama compiled a plan to cut the number of proportional representation seats in the House of Representatives by 50.
Nakayama was a close aide to the late Michio Watanabe, who had served as foreign minister. When Nakayama, along with Watanabe, voted for Toshiki Kaifu in the lower house's nomination for prime minister, he was punished.
Nakayama's late parents were also lawmakers and former Foreign Minister Taro Nakayama is his elder brother.
Nakayama, 67, a native of Osaka Prefecture, has been elected to the lower house 10 times.
COPYRIGHT 1999 Kyodo News International, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning
