Japan has delayed the issuing of visas for two Myanmar military-appointed diplomats the junta seeks to send to Tokyo in place of two it fired in March, according to government sources.

Myanmar's military has requested that Japan issue diplomatic visas for the two replacements. Tokyo has said it "is considering" the request but has yet to start issuance procedures, the sources said.

If Japan were to allow the two replacements to be posted to the Myanmar Embassy in Tokyo it would be tantamount to recognizing the Feb. 1 military coup that ousted the country's elected government under civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.