The Democratic Party of Japan said Tuesday it will issue constitutional amendment proposals by 2006.

Naoto Kan, president of the nation's largest opposition force, made no specific references to changing Article 9 of the Constitution, which prohibits Japan from using military force as a means of solving international disputes.

He did suggest, however, that the DPJ may advocate the establishment of a special reserve force to fulfill overseas police missions at the behest of the U.N. or similar international bodies.

Kan announced these plans during the party's annual convention in Tokyo.

"The DPJ will show people by 2006 what the Constitution should be in the future based on discussions by the people," Kan told the convention, which was attended by DPJ lawmakers, local representatives and candidates for the summer Upper House election.

Article 9 is expected to be the main focus of constitutional debate, with the Liberal Democratic Party also planning to propose amendments by November 2005, in keeping with the 50th anniversary of the LDP's establishment. The LDP has consistently called for Article 9 to be reassessed.

Aside from constitutional reform matters, Kan said the DPJ would consider the establishment of a special reserve force -- separate from the Self-Defense Forces -- for overseas police operations.

"We cannot avoid discussing in what cases the SDF should be dispatched overseas," Kan said.

In view of Article 9, SDF missions have been strictly limited to self-defense operations within Japan's territory and to noncombat missions overseas.

These limitations have frustrated both elderly hawkish lawmakers and younger politicians who want Japan to play an active role beyond its "checkbook" diplomacy.

This term has been used to describe Japan's use of financial contributions as a foreign policy tool.

The government is planning to dispatch Ground Self-Defense Force troops to help reconstruction efforts in Iraq in the near future. The mission will be limited to noncombat logistic and humanitarian operations of a relatively small scale.

"There is an interpretation that the Constitution does not necessarily prohibit (Japan) from participating in U.N.-led forces or similar international police forces in the capacity of international public servants or similar status," Kan said.

Meanwhile, Kan pledged to draw up a set of policy programs aimed at reinvigorating rural areas before the summer Upper House election, adding that the programs will focus on raising the consumption of domestic food and the use of domestic lumber.

The plan represents a striking shift from the DPJ's focus on urban areas. The LDP has maintained a virtual stranglehold on rural areas by doling out a stream of agricultural subsidies and funds for public works projects.

With regard to the Upper House poll, Kan said the DPJ should aim to increase the number of votes it receives by 3 million to 25 million in the proportional representation segment, compared with the roughly 22 million it received in November's Lower House election in this section.

"One goal is to force the LDP-New Komeito camp to have less than half of the 121 seats to be contested in the Upper House election," Kan said.

Kan admitted, however, that it will be difficult for the DPJ to unseat the number of LDP-New Komeito candidates necessary to capture power.

An Upper House lawmaker serves a six-year term, with only half the seats in the chamber contested every three years. In addition, the Lower House's choice of prime minister supersedes that of the Upper House.

But the election will constitute a barometer for the Koizumi administration, Kan said.