Japanese Offensive

Japan planned to follow up their early successes with a major offensive against the United States. The main objective was the Midway Islands, a group of small atolls so named for being halfway between Japan and North America. Possession of these strategic islands would give Japan control of the center of the North Pacific and a base for offensive operations against the Hawaiian Islands. 

The secondary objective was an invasion of Alaska on the western Aleutian Islands of Attu and Kiska. The invasion of Alaska was primarily defensive. The  Japanese were concerned about the threat of bombing attacks from the Aleutians, and holding them could block an invasion of Japan through the North Pacific.