Japan releases report on defense guidelines

TOKYO - The Japanese Defense Ministry on Friday released an interim report on the country's defense guidelines, vowing to improve Japan's missile defense capability and Self-Defense Forces' (SDF) ability over remote islands.

The report said that security situation in the Asia-Pacific region is increasingly worsening as missile development of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has entered into a new level while its nuclear weapon ambition remains a major threat.

It said the Japan-US security system is a corner stone for Japan's security and Japan, therefore, has to deepen the alliance relationship with the United States, adding the security ties are more important than ever before.

Japan needs to push forward joint training, surveillance and monitoring with the United States, as well as sharing of infrastructure with the ally, according to the report.

Japan is also mulling to introduce unmanned, long-range and high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft to strengthen its monitoring capability over its remote islands, said the report.

The report, which was submitted to Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera by a panel, is a basis for a new defense guidelines that the government hopes to be compiled and approved in December by a cabinet meeting.

The defense guidelines is Japan's long-term basic defense policy and the new one will discuss the exercise of collective self-defense rights by the SDF.