Japan's version of the US National Security Council comprising
the prime minister and other top government officials will be
launched in April 2008, a major local newspaper reported
Friday.
The council, to be headed by the premier, will be a reorganized
version of the Security Council of Japan. It will also comprise
chief cabinet secretary, foreign minister and defense minister and
a deputy chief cabinet secretary-level official, the Yomiuri
Shimbun newspaper said.
A government panel to boost the Prime Minister's Office's
functions concerning national security approved the plan concerning
the issue at a meeting late Thursday. A final report is to be made
public on Feb. 27.
The idea to set up such a council was brought up by Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe last year while he was running for the
president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Once established,
the council will hold regular meetings to set up medium and
long-term strategies over diplomacy and security.
(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2007)
