Japan National Intelligence Council has 1st meet in counterespionage push

TOKYO - Japan held the first meeting of its new National Intelligence Council chaired by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the government said Friday, in a step toward strengthening the country's intelligence capabilities and pursuing counterespionage legislation.

The first meeting of the council was held on the same day as the launch of its secretariat, the National Intelligence Bureau. A law enacted in May established both bodies as part of efforts by the Takaichi government to boost capabilities in response to increasingly complex overseas threats.