tokyo japanese prime minister shinzo abe say would dissolve parliament low house thursday snap election seek mandate stick tough stance toward volatile north korea rebalance social security system abe power five years expect call election next month take advantage improve support disarray opposition camp demonstrate strong leadership stand forefront face national crisis abe tell reporters mention japan fast-ageing population north korea responsibility leader mission prime minister natsuo yamaguchi head abe junior coalition partner komeito party say understand election would oct. 22. abe say would redirect revenue plan sales tax hike 2019 child care education rather pay back public debt although add would abandon fiscal reform rebalancing spend would offset potential negative effect consumption tax rise say turn japan social security system one respond generations boldly divert policy resources resolve two major concern child rear elderly nurse care work generations confront say abe reject criticism hold election would create political vacuum time rise tension north korea missile nuclear arm program pyongyang fire ballistic missiles japan twice last month conduct sixth big nuclear test sept. must give north korea threats gain mandate people election forge ahead strong diplomacy abe say add time put pressure pyongyang open dialogue abe whose rat rise around 50 percent around 30 percent july gamble rule bloc keep low house majority even lose two-thirds super majority need achieve long-held goal revise post-war pacifist constitution clarify military role say goal coalition retain majority chamber weekend survey nikkei business daily show 44 percent voters plan vote abe liberal democratic party ldp versus percent main opposition democratic party another percent new party launch popular tokyo governor yuriko koike nikkei poll positive abe prospect kyodo news agency survey show ldp garner 27.7 percent support 42.2 percent undecided abe image strong leader bolster rat amid north korea crisis overshadow opposition criticism premier suspect cronyism scandals erode support early year give result see major develop countries however political analysts rule unexpected abe big gamble could yield big surprise veteran independent political analyst minoru morita say prime minister expect face grill cronyism scandals session parliament thursday opposition party officials saw move ploy avoid difficult question abe monday ask cabinet compile trillion yen 18 billion economic package year-end focus child care education encourage corporate investment tell public broadcaster nhk divert sales tax revenue would make impossible meet government target balance japan budget exclude debt service cost bond sales year begin april 2020. absolutely low flag fiscal consolidation say say believe necessary revise constitution pacifist article clarify military status say word propose change party main opposition democratic party struggle single-digit rat much depend whether cooperate liberal opposition group monday hours abe election announcement tokyo governor koike say would lead new conservative reform-minded party hope offer voters alternative ldp ideal proceed free special interest koike former ldp member tell news conference ldp internal survey show seat hold ldp coalition partner komeito could fall 280 323 hold nikkei report saturday reform adopt last year cut number low house seat 465 475. japan 's abe announce snap election amid worry north korea