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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the first foreign leader who offered to send a special envoy to congratulate Park Geun-hye on her election victory in December. In January, Abe also said, "I will try my best to build a trustful relationship with President-elect Park as early as possible to enhance bilateral ties based on shared values.” On Tuesday, the Japanese government announced it would set up an agency exclusively responsible for handling territorial issues, including Dokdo, "under the direct control of the Prime Minister’s Office.”