Abe goes to China Sunday, South Korea the next day

Shinzo Abe

Abe will go to Beijing on Sunday and to Seoul the following day in his first foreign trip as premier. In contrast his predecessor Junichiro Koizumi visited the United States, Japan's closest ally, first.

Beijing had refused to invite a Japanese prime minister for five years, in part due to an emotionally-charged dispute over Koizumi's visits to a Tokyo war shrine seen as symbolizing Japan's past militarism.

Both Beijing and Tokyo suggested that they had reached a deal on the controversial issue.

Abe, who took office on September 26, is scheduled to meet with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing and then hold a summit with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun in Seoul, officials in the three countries said.

But the diplomatic opening, which Koizumi's government had sought in vain for years, was overshadowed by North Korea's announcement Tuesday that it would conduct its first nuclear test.

North Korea's neighbors all urged restraint amid a flurry of diplomacy, with Roh due to go to China on October 13.

But Abe has long been known as a hardliner on the communist state, whereas Beijing and Seoul prefer a more flexible approach.

Officials sounded conciliatory as they announced Abe's tour but kept mum on details.

China said the visit was made possible after "overcoming the political obstacle to bilateral relations."

It did not elaborate, but China in the past used "political obstacle" to refer to Koizumi's visits to the controversial Yasukuni shrine.

Koizumi as premier went six times to the shrine honoring war dead and war criminals alike, infuriating China and the two Koreas which remain bitter over past Japanese aggression.

Abe is known for his nationalist views and has visited the shrine in the past. He has refused to say if he will visit as prime minister, while hinting he will go in secret.

Japanese officials refused to say if Abe's reticent stance on the shrine led to the diplomatic breakthrough.

Koizumi went to the shrine with television cameras rolling, most recently on August 15, the emotive anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender, which Koreans celebrate as "Liberation Day."

Asked if Abe would discuss the Yasukuni shrine dispute with his counterparts, government spokesman Yasuhisa Shiozaki: "It's common sense that this will probably be a major topic."

"But Japan and China agreed in promoting a healthy bilateral relationship, overcoming political difficulties," said Shiozaki, the chief cabinet secretary, without elaborating.

However, the bridge-building visit could show up disagreements on North Korea.

Abe built his career as a hawk on the communist state. He told parliament he would seek cooperation with China and South Korea, which have taken a more conciliatory stance towards Pyongyang.