Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has carried out a major reshuffle of his cabinet since 2012, replacing 13 ministers Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reshuffled his cabinet on Wednesday, appointing new foreign and defense ministers, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has said.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that Japan’s new Foreign Minister is Toshimitsu Motegi, a former economy minister, who took part in trade talks with the United States.

Former Foreign Minister Taro Kono has been shifted to the defense minister, replacing Takeshi Iwaya, who had been in office for nearly a year.

Hiroshige Seko, a former Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, who also oversaw fostering economic relations with Russia, has not joined Japan’s new cabinet. He was replaced by former Deputy Finance Minister Isshu Sugawara, who will be now responsible for cultivating economic ties between Japan and Russia.