Asked about the bombings in Spain, Ishiba said that additional security steps could be taken in Japan.

"Related authorities must coordinate closely and we should further step up our measures to prevent a terror attack like this from happening in our country," Ishiba said, though he did not recommend any specific moves.

Japan last month tightened security at hundreds of locations, including airports, nuclear plants and government facilities, to guard against terror attacks, putting the country on its highest level of alert since Iraq was invaded last March.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda meanwhile said there were no immediate plans to change Japan's security stance, but he suggested that officials were reviewing the current measures to see if further steps were warranted.

"If there is any new aspect that we were unaware of, then we will respond to that accordingly," he said. "Terrorists look for opportunities even if we are prepared, so we must be watchful."

The Japan Times Weekly: March 20, 2004
(C) All rights reserved