Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party decided on Tuesday to propose legitimizing the military use of space for self-defense purposes, Kyodo News reported.

The policy, which was endorsed in a subcommittee meeting of the party's Special Commission on Space Development, will pave the way for the Defense Agency to develop and operate reconnaissance satellites capable of filming high-resolution images, Kyodo said.

The party plans to draft the bill by August and present it to the next ordinary Diet session, which is slated for early 2007.

LDP said the current policy, which limits space projects to civilian ends, has caused a delay in Japan's space use for security purposes and cultivation of industrial bases for space technology, the report said, quoting party sources.

LDP also plans to encourage private organizations to take part in security-involved space projects, sources said.

Source: Xinhua