Japan’s government has launched 2 bodies to counter international terrorism in the wake of last month’s Paris attacks.
A ceremony was held at the prime minister’s office on Tuesday to open an intelligence unit in the Foreign Ministry and an inter-ministerial liaison body in the Cabinet secretariat.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said strengthening intelligence gathering capabilities is urgent.
He encouraged staff whom he called professionals in international terrorism-related intelligence to do their best to obtain vital information.
The Foreign Ministry unit consists of 4 senior officials, each monitoring one of 4 regions — Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and North and West Africa.
They are to work with staff at overseas diplomatic establishments and exchange information with foreign intelligence services.
The liaison body, headed by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuhiro Sugita, consists of senior officials from the Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry, the National Police Agency and the Public Security Intelligence Agency.
It is to consider anti-terror measures under the leadership of the prime minister’s office.
Source and image: NHK
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