A firebrand security hawk who has pushed for Japan to renounce its pacifist military stance and downplayed wartime atrocities is set to become the country’s next prime minister, setting up a shift in Tokyo’s approach to countering North Korea but potentially endangering cooperation with Seoul.

In her third leadership bid, former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi was elected president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Saturday, paving the way for her to become Japan’s first female prime minister after incumbent Shigeru Ishiba steps down this month.

An acolyte of former Japanese leader Shinzo Abe and a long-time admirer