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The Latest: Japan PM Abe seeks mandate on N. Korea policies

Lawmakers give "banzai," or three cheers, after the lower house of the parliament was dissolved in Tokyo Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dissolved the lower house and called a snap election for next month as expected. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Lawmakers give "banzai," or three cheers, after the lower house of the parliament was dissolved in Tokyo Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dissolved the lower house and called a snap election for next month as expected. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Lawmakers give "banzai," or three cheers, after the lower house of the parliament was dissolved in Tokyo Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dissolved the lower house and called a snap election for next month as expected. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

By Associated Press 1 min read

TOKYO (AP) – The Latest on Japan’s prime minister dissolving parliament to call elections (all times local):

12:30 p.m.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will seek a public mandate on his tougher diplomatic and defense policies to deal with escalating threats from North Korea.

Abe spoke at a meeting of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party minutes after dissolving parliament’s lower house Thursday for an election. He urged his fellow members to gain understanding his North Korea policies. Abe said his responsibility is safety and peace for the people of Japan.

The election for the 475-seat lower house, the more powerful of Japan’s two-chamber parliament, is expected on Oct. 22.