Faced with diplomatic and defense-related challenges that could decide the fate of the Abe administration, the reshuffled Cabinet must hit the ground running after its launch Wednesday.

The first report from North Korea's special investigation committee on missing Japanese, including those abducted by North Korean spies in the 1970s and 80s, is due later this month.

Japanese officials are hoping the North finally returns some of the abductees to improve relations. Pyongyang's ties with China, its biggest ally, have been strained in recent months, and this might be the cause of the diplomatic overture to Tokyo, they say.