Japan appeared to support the U.S. policy on Iraq on Tuesday, telling the U.N. Security Council it is "desirable" to adopt a new resolution showing Iraq has not fully complied in dismantling its weapons of mass destruction.
But Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Wednesday in Tokyo that Japan expressed its support for a new resolution in order to promote a unified international stance on Iraq, not to give its support to a U.S.-led attack.
"There is a misunderstanding," Koizumi told reporters in an attempt to dismiss the view that Japan's call for a new resolution immediately means it will support possible military action against Iraq.
The United States and Britain are now preparing a new resolution that would back an attack.