The paper said that since Abe, known as a hardliner on North Korea, has taken a critical view on Roh’s North Korean policy, saying, “He takes things too easy,” he may ask Roh not to easily compromise with the North and to work together with the U.S. and Japan to resolve the North’s nuclear issue.

He is also expected to meet with Uri Party’s leadership, most of which are soft liners on North Korea, to explain Japan’s government policy of not aiding North Korea’s economy unless issues of the nuclear program, missile development and abduction of some Japanese are resolved. In addition, the paper said that his planned meeting with Park Geun-hye, head of the Grand National Party, which has many hardliners on North Korea, it is an express of discontent with the Roh administration, which is pushing a policy of engagement with Pyongyang.

Abe, as the leader of Japan's younger political group, will actively pursue an exchange of opinions with young Korean politicians, many of whom show strong anti-Japanese tendencies. The paper forecasted that visit to Korea by Abe, who has insisted on "saying what needs to be said," would be an opportunity to prove his diplomatic ability.

(Jung Kwon-hyun, khjung@chosun.com )?