Japan expressed its support Friday for Washington's "firm attitude" against terrorism but reserved its position on the U.S. bombing of terrorist-linked sites in Sudan and Afghanistan.
Japan also moved to bolster security against possible retaliatory attacks targeting U.S. facilities in the country.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka told a morning news conference that the government "understands" and supports the United States for its defiant attitude against terrorism. But Japan has yet to announce whether it supports the bombings, he said, noting the government is currently studying the details of the attacks.
Japan did not receive any advance notice from the U.S., Nonaka said, noting other nations also were not informed.
Earlier the day at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi consulted with Nonaka, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and other officials about how Japan should react.
Also Friday morning, Lawrence Greenwood, charge d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, briefed Vice Foreign Minister Shuji Yanai at the Foreign Ministry about the air strikes. In the talks, Greenwood sought Japan's "supportive" stance toward the U.S. action, and Yanai also showed "understanding" to the strikes, ministry officials said.