About 9,000 police officers will be mobilized in a massive security effort when U.S. President George W. Bush visits Tokyo next week, police said.
Bush plans to discuss North Korea's suspected development of nuclear weapons and other issues with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi during his visit.
"It is an undeniable fact that President Bush is the biggest target of terrorists throughout the world," Katsuhiko Ikeda, director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's security bureau, told about 200 riot police captains, police station chiefs and other security-related officials Monday.
"Extremely tight security must be taken," Ikeda said, adding that Bush's first visit to Japan since the U.S.-led attack on Iraq comes amid the "worst situation" ever.
As many as 9,000 officers could be deployed during the visit, said a Tokyo police spokesman.
Government sources have said Bush will visit from Oct. 17 to 18.