Japan has called off its plan to send Defense Minister Gen Nakatani to a military athletic competition to be held in South Korea next month, a defense official said Wednesday.

"Minister of Defense Nakatani had hoped to come to South Korea early next month, but it has been decided Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense Kenji Harada will come instead," the official said.

The Summer Military World Games, a quadrennial athletic competition for military personnel to be held in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, will kick off its 10-day run on Oct. 2.

About 120 foreign countries will join the sports event, including Japan, but the Northeast Asian country will not send military athletes because it currently maintains self-defense forces only.

The change reflects Japan's forthcoming reshuffle of its Cabinet next month, of which the defense minister is a member, according to the official.

The vice minister plans to visit South Korea from Oct. 1-3, with his schedule including the sporting event's opening ceremony as well as a meeting with South Korean defense officials.

Previously, Nakatani had sought to make the trip to the event and had been discussing an itinerary. (Yonhap)