Bank of Japan policymakers debated at their October policy meeting whether extra easing measures were needed to hit the central bank's 2 percent inflation target, a summary of opinions showed on Monday as heightened risks continued to threaten a fragile economic recovery.

Some on the BOJ's nine-member board insisted on the need to communicate to markets that the BOJ would maintain loose monetary policy, given the time need to accelerate inflation to the 2 percent goal, the summary of the Oct. 30-31 meeting showed.

One member said additional easing measures would be needed "without hesitation" if momentum toward achieving the target falters.