Japan should acquire the capacity to strike an enemy's missile sites as part of its defensive capabilities under the new National Defense Program Guidelines, defense policy panels of the Liberal Democratic Party proposed Tuesday.
The controversial proposal comes against the backdrop of growing calls among some LDP lawmakers for a more aggressive response to North Korea's April rocket launch, which Japan considered a cover to test its ballistic missile technology, and the nuclear test in May.
The LDP will submit the proposal and other recommendations to Prime Minister Taro Aso in the hope they will be reflected in the guidelines the Cabinet is to approve in December, according to party officials.