Japanese, US defense chiefs meet on boosting security ties

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera held talks on Sunday with visiting US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, centering on improving bilateral defense cooperation.

The two defense chiefs agreed to accelerate work related to revise Japan-US defense cooperation guidelines for the first time in 17 years as Japan attempts to reinterpret its pacifist constitution.

Hagel hailed Japan's engagement in collective self-defense when he met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday, as well as Abe's other moves on changing Japan's defense stance.