Japan launches administrative office of national security council

The Japanese government on Tuesday launched an administrative office of the newly-established National Security Council and named former Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi as its chief. With 67 staff members, including officials from foreign and defense ministries, the administrative office will support the National Security Council by coordinating operations of relevant ministries and agencies, as well as collecting and analyzing information on the international circumstances.The council, a national security command center similar to the US National Security Council, was established within the Cabinet Secretariat last month to expand the command functions of the prime minister's office in drawing up country's foreign and security policies.It is also designed to enhance coordination among different government agencies involved in the country's foreign and defense affairs.The council holds a meeting of four ministers, consisting of the Prime Minister, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Foreign Minister and Defense Minister.The four share information on diplomacy and defense and draw up government policies when they meet twice a month.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is trying to strengthen Japan's security infrastructure amid China's maritime assertiveness and North Korea's nuclear and missile development. Yachi is expected to o visit Washington later this month to meet US National Security Council officials.