Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday his Liberal Democratic Party should accelerate work to compile its plan to amend the Constitution so that it can be submitted to the next Diet session, expected to be convened in the fall.

"We cannot continue our debate forever. Politics is all about outcome and we will achieve the goal with broad consensus," Abe said during his speech in his home constituency of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Abe is eager to amend for the first time the 71-year-old Constitution, which was written during the U.S.-led Occupation after Japan was defeated in World War II. Specifically, he has called for adding an "explicit reference" to the Self-Defense Forces to the pacifist Article 9 to ensure there is no way for them to be deemed "unconstitutional."