Japan's defense, foreign ministers to attend int'l security forum in Germany

Japan's defense and foreign ministers said Tuesday they will travel to Germany later in the week to attend the Munich Security Conference, amid a growing need for closer international cooperation in the wake of ongoing conflicts. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said separately at a press conference that based on the shared view that the "security of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific regions is inseparable," he will reaffirm "our strong solidarity in maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law." Asked to comment on a proposed constitutional amendment, including giving the government greater powers in the event of a major disaster or armed attack, Koizumi reiterated that the country should speed up the procedures toward a national referendum.