Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida listens to questions from the media during a news conference in Tokyo, June 13, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday that he will decide when to dissolve the parliament's lower house after assessing various circumstances, amid speculation that he will call a snap election soon.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held the news conference to unveil details about his government's new package of wide-ranging measures to reverse a dwindling birthrate, including removing an income limit for child-rearing allowances and raising payments for paternal leave

"I want to be sure that I can assess the situation appropriately," Kishida told a press conference when asked about plans for a snap election, adding that "I would like to refrain from commenting further on this matter."

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The prime minister had said late last month that he was not considering dissolving the lower house "for now."

Kishida held the news conference to unveil details about his government's new package of wide-ranging measures to reverse a dwindling birthrate, including removing an income limit for child-rearing allowances and raising payments for paternal leave.

Some opposition parties have criticized the Kishida administration for attempting to carry out large-scale tax hikes to secure funding for its child care policies as well as a planned expansion of the country's defense spending.

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Kishida said his government will not seek additional burdens on the public for the child care policy, promising to "thoroughly cut expenditures" in other fields to secure the funding.