A plan has been drafted to set up a national security council for the prime minister where four Cabinet ministers will meet to share top secret intelligence, government officials said Thursday.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants such a council formed to promote information sharing among the government's various ministries and agencies so confidential information and other intelligence resources can be integrated more quickly and easily.
The council will "drastically change the vertical divisions" among the ministries, a senior government official told reporters after the draft was presented to an advisory panel to the prime minister. The panel, composed of outside experts, was launched in February to discuss issues related to the council's formation.