PRIME MINISTER ABE TO VISIT AUSTRALIA

JAPAN PM Abe to visit Darwin in a very first since World War II : Media.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Darwin in November in a first for a Japanese leader since the Japanese Imperial  army bombed the Australian city during World War II, Australian media reported on Saturday.

Abe will tour $40 billion liquefied  natural gas [LNG]  project run by Japanese company Inpex Corp, according to media reports from Sky News and ABC News.

Abe, will also use the visit to cement military ties with Australia following an agreement between the two countries to conduct joint training exercises and increase defence cooperation, the reports said.

Abe's visit to Darwin would be the first by a Japanese leader since the Japanese military struck its key military port, killing more than 250 people across multiple bombings in 1942 and 1943, media said.

Abe will make the visit to Darwin before attending an  APEC  leaders' summit in Port Moresby, ABC News said. [Agencies]