Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigns over health concerns

"It is gut wrenching to have to leave my job before accomplishing my goals"

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced he is resigning due to health concerns.

Mr Abe, who turns 66 next month, announced he is stepping down for health reasons after suffering for many years from ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease.

He became Japan’s longest-serving prime minister last November, combining his earlier one-year term.

Mr Abe said he did not want his illness, which has worsened recently, to get in the way of decision making, and apologised to the Japanese people for not completing his term in office.

The prime minister believes his health will hold up until a successor is chosen, he said on Friday.

"It is gut wrenching to have to leave my job before accomplishing my goals," he said, mentioning his failure to resolve the issue of Japanese people abducted years ago by North Korea and a territorial dispute with Russia.

Mr Abe is Japan's longest-serving leader 
AP

Mr Abe said his health problem was under control until earlier this year, but was found to have relapsed in June when he had an annual check-up.

His first term ended abruptly 13 years ago because of health problems, fuelling concerns about his current condition.

Mr Abe made a hospital visit for the second week in a row on Monday, later telling reporters he was there again "to get detailed results from last week's checkup and have additional examination".

"I'm making sure I'm in good health, and I plan to keep working hard," Mr Abe said.

The previous week he had spent more than seven hours at Keio University Hospital in Tokyo for what officials said was an additional check-up because he did not have enough time during his earlier visit in June.

Last week's hospital visit triggered a flurry of speculation in the Japanese media about the possibility that his health was declining.

Top officials have said Mr Abe was overworked
Getty Images

Top officials from Mr Abe's cabinet and the ruling party, including finance minister Taro Aso, said publicly that Mr Abe was "overworked and badly needed rest".

Members of the media covering the prime minister's office said Mr Abe looked tired and was moving slower that usual.

During the last week, he has spent only a few hours a day in his office, and only in the afternoon.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked Mr Abe for his service and wished him good health.

In a tweet, Mr Johnson said: "Shinzo Abe has achieved great things as PM of Japan - for his country and the world.

"Under his stewardship the UK-Japan relationship has gone from strength to strength in trade, defence and our cultural links.

"Thank you for all your years of service and I wish you good health."

Meanwhile, South Korea said the sudden resignation of Mr Abe came as a regret as he has played an important role for bilateral relations.

South Korea will continue cooperation with Japan's new leader and cabinet to further improve ties between the two countries, presidential Blue House spokesman Kang Min-seok said in a statement on Friday.

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