Japan’s ruling party will employ the nation’s Maritime Self-Defense Force in cargo inspections of North Korean ships suspected of transporting illegal weapons.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito Party reached the decision during an emergency meeting Tuesday.

The decision comes as the Japanese government seeks to draw up a special bill on inspections of North Korean ships.

With the decision, the Maritime Self-Defense Force will join the Japan Coast Guard in conducting ship inspections.

The ruling camp also decided that the maritime branch of the Japan Self-Defense Force would not need parliamentary approval to inspect North Korean ships.

However, to avoid conflict, the Japan Coast Guard will be charged with boarding North Korean ships while the Maritime Self-Defense Force will be tasked with tailing ships and exchanging information with other countries’ military forces.

The Japanese government plans to finish writing the special cargo inspection bill this week and will submit it before parliament early next month. Such efforts are expected to face strong resistance from the opposition camp.