Japan's Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu says his ministry will consider developing submarine-launched standoff missiles, describing them as "useful."

The Defense Ministry has been upgrading the Ground Self-Defense Force's Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles into standoff missiles that could be launched from outside an enemy's firing range.

The ministry will begin mass production of land-based standoff missiles, and plans to develop types that can be fired from destroyers and fighter jets.

A lawmaker of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Nagashima Akihisa, said in a Diet committee on Thursday that submarine-launched types are very effective in strategic terms.

He said the enemy's movements would be limited out of fear of a sneak attack from unexpected areas at sea.

Hamada replied that the stealth factor of submarines would work well in combat involving long-range missiles. He said submarine-launched standoff missiles would force the enemy to respond in a more complex manner.

He said the development of such missiles would be discussed as the government works to revise the National Security Strategy by the year-end.