Japan’s national broadcaster says a group of lawmakers in Japan’s ruling camp are pushing for the Maritime Self-Defense Force to take part in cargo inspections of North Korean ships suspected of transporting illegal weapons.

The NHK report said Monday that defense-related lawmakers in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have made the call as the Japanese government is seeking to draw up a special bill this week regarding inspections of North Korean ships. The bill would reportedly give the Japan Coast Guard, not the Maritime Self-Defense Force, the key role in conducting ship inspections.

NHK said the legislators are pressuring the government to expand Japan’s role in inspections by including the Maritime Self-Defense Force, citing the importance of relations with the U.S. Navy.

The report forecast that the envisioned bill is unlikely to include the maritime branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, as some lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party are strongly opposed to the measure.