South Korea urged Japan Thursday to abide by the spirit of its Pacifist Constitution in implementing its new defense policy.

"We expect discussions on Japan's defense policy to proceed in the direction of contributing to peace and stability in the region while sticking to the spirit of the Pacifist Constitution," foreign ministry spokesman Noh Kwang-il said at a press briefing.

In particular, he added, South Korea will never accept any measure related to its national interests and the security of the peninsula without Seoul's prior consent.

The government's firm stance came in response to the Shinzo Abe administration's legislative campaign to expand the role of the country's military abroad.

The conservative leader has sought to reinterpret the constitution adopted after Japan's defeat in World War II.

Japan recently agreed with the United States on a fresh package of joint defense guidelines. It would allow Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense, which means Japan could use force against an attack on the U.S. or other partner countries.

In Tokyo, Abe's Cabinet was set to approve the related security bills later Thursday as it plans to submit those to the Diet within this week. (Yonhap)