Tokyo, Oct. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is considering establishing soon a new project team to discuss strengthening missile defense measures amid the rapid progress of North Korean nuclear and missile development, Jiji Press learned on Saturday.

The project team is expected to comprise mainly members of the party’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense policy divisions, multiple LDP lawmakers said.

The team will discuss measures such as boosting missile detection and interception capabilities with unmanned aircraft and acquiring strike capabilities against enemy bases, and plans to compile a proposal to submit to the government, the lawmakers said.

North Korea has been honing its missile-related technologies with multiple launch tests for its new short-range ballistic missiles since May. Earlier this month, the country fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile in a lofted trajectory. Missiles launched at such a trajectory are harder to detect upon their launch and have higher fall velocity, making interception more difficult.

“At this rate, (North Korea) will complete a high-performance nuclear missile capable of reaching Japan,” an LDP lawmaker specialized in national defense policies said, emphasizing the necessity of swift countermeasures.