Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday that he has "no plan" to consider granting the Self-Defense Forces permission to develop the ability to strike overseas targets, such as North Korean missile facilities.
The prime minister also said the nation's defense guidelines need to be reviewed to reflect North Korea's development of intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as other changes in the security environment.
Abe's remark on the SDF acquiring the capability to strike overseas targets came after newly appointed Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said Friday the government "should consider" the option of knocking out North Korean ballistic missile launch sites.