Japan's Abe avoids timeline for amending pacifist constitution


Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends the opening of a session of parliament in Tokyo, Japan January 22, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe opened a new session of parliament on Monday with familiar promises for economic reform and stronger defence, but steered clear of setting a timeline for his goal of revising the post-war, pacifist constitution.

The push by the conservative Japanese leader to fulfil his long-held ambition coincides with rising concerns about North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes and China's military assertiveness.

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