The government plans to continue discussions on whether to acquire strike capabilities against foreign bases without setting a deadline for a decision, official sources said Thursday.
The administration of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and the ruling bloc are still far from reaching an agreement, with the Liberal Democratic Party's junior coalition partner Komeito reluctant to expand the Self-Defense Forces' role under the country's pacifist Constitution.
The Cabinet is expected to approve a plan next week to build two new naval vessels equipped with Aegis missile interceptors, as an alternative to a land-based system, to defend against the threat of North Korean ballistic missiles.