Japan PM Abe to pursue constitutional change in 3 yrs if re-elected LDP chief

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday pledged to pursue an amendment to Japan's pacifist Constitution if he wins another three-year term as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, a key issue in the party's upcoming presidential election.Stressing the need for an aspirational target, Abe said in a joint press conference with his only challenger in the Sept. 20 election, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, "I hope (the LDP) will proceed with discussions (on constitutional revisions) toward the Diet session in the fall."Abe, who has made the first-ever constitutional amendment one of…READ FULL ARTICLE