South Korea called on Japan Thursday to push for its new defense policy in a transparent manner, as Japan's ruling party railroaded controversial security bills through the lower house of the parliament.
The bills, boycotted by opposition parties, would allow the conservative Shinzo Abe administration to reinterpret the constitution and expand the country's military role abroad.
The Abe administration plans to enact the bills by Sept. 27, when the current extended parliamentary session ends. The legislation requires approval by the upper chamber of the Diet.
"The (South Korean) government's position is that discussions on Japan's defense policy should be carried out transparently and in the direction to stick to the spirit of the pacifist constitution and contribute to regional peace and security," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
It reaffirmed that South Korea will never tolerate Japan's military move without Seoul's prior consent if it affects the security of the Korean Peninsula or hurts its national interests. (Yonhap)
