The Justice Ministry has decided to accelerate installation of new equipment that will detect fake passports at all 35 major airports and ports servicing international routes, ministry officials said.
The decision was made in accordance with a request from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi after the terrorist hijacking attacks in the United States.
A total of 44 pieces of equipment will be installed in the 35 airports and ports by March 31, they said Saturday. Of that equipment, 21 pieces are already in use at major airports.
The ministry originally planned to install the equipment during the current fiscal year and in fiscal 2002.
The decision to install the latest equipment resulted from the illegal entry in May of a man believed to be Kim Jong Nam, the elder son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.