Japan's ruling bloc, opposition eye early passage of cargo inspection

• Source: Xinhua
• [08:07 June 18 2009]
• Comments

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and main opposition leader Yukio Hatoyama agreed to facilitate the passage of a cargo inspection bill with regard to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Wednesday.

Combo photo shows Taro Aso (R), Japanese prime minister and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and Yukio Hatoyama, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, in their second debate at the Diet in Tokyo, capital of Japan, June 17, 2009. (Xinhua/Ren Zhenglai)

"I hope both the ruling and opposition camps will work in concert and reach a quick conclusion," Aso said during a debate with Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Hatoyama in parliament.

Hatoyama welcomed the adoption last week of a U.N. Security Council resolution to impose a broad range of additional sanctions on DPRK in response to its nuclear test in May.

He urged Aso to submit soon to parliament a bill to inspect the cargo of ships sailing to and from DPRK so his party can hold discussions on the matter, saying the DPJ will draw a conclusion as quickly as possible.

At a press conference Tuesday, Hatoyama said it is likely that his party may give a nod to the bill if inspections are conducted by the Coast Guard, not the Self-Defense Forces (SDF), local media has reported.

The SDF's activities, especially in regard to overseas deployment, often spark controversy in Japan because of the nation's war-renouncing Constitution.