Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on June 23 once again rejected opposition calls for him to dissolve the Lower House and hold a snap general election in the near future.

"I ask myself all the time whether now is the time to dissolve (the Lower House) when there are piles of policy issues" that need to be taken care of, Fukuda said at a news conference to mark the end of the regular Diet session.

"I believe my responsibility is to implement the policies and do things that will give the public hope, and not cause trouble for them," he said.

Fukuda also brushed aside speculation he may reshuffle his Cabinet immediately after hosting the Group of Eight summit in Hokkaido in July, saying no decision has been made on the matter.