The Defense Ministry is seen in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward. (Mainichi/Masahiro Ogawa)

TOKYO -- Defense Minister Taro Kono suggested the ministry would temporarily release 1 million masks for public use from the Self-Defense Forces' (SDF) reserves amid dire shortages due to the new coronavirus outbreak.

Kono told a press conference on March 6 that he would ask for the return of the same number of masks after three weeks, so the measure would not adversely affect the SDF's disaster relief missions.

According to the Defense Ministry, the SDF possesses 1.55 million reserve masks for use in disaster assistance and other operations. The ministry will release 1 million of those after coordinating the timing and other conditions within the government, while retaining the remaining 550,000 masks for use in initial emergency responses.

(Japanese original by Yusuke Tanabe, Political News Department)