In an effort to cool down debate on whether the nation should possess the capability to pre-empt a missile attack, government officials on Friday flatly denied that Japan is even considering a move in that direction.
"The government has no intention of introducing such capability," Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said.
He was responding to Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba's remarks during a Diet session the day before that possessing offensive capability is "worth considering."