Gemba, Clinton confirm Futenma relocation

Japan's new Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to proceed with the relocation of a US air base in Okinawa Prefecture, based on a bilateral accord.

The agreement came during their meeting in New York on Monday.

Japan and the United States plan to transfer the functions of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station to a less populated area of Okinawa. But the move has been stalled due to local opposition.

Clinton said it was important for the 2 governments to quickly to implement the agreement. Gemba responded that the Japanese government will proceed steadily with the plan.
But he explained that local leaders and residents in Okinawa still oppose the move. Gemba asked Clinton to further ease the prefecture's burden of hosting many US bases.

On North Korea's nuclear program, the 2 sides agreed to monitor developments in the North's dialogues with the US and South Korea. Gemba requested US support for resolving North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals.

He also said Japan hopes to quickly decide whether to join US-led negotiations for a proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership for regional free trade.

On the nuclear accident in Fukushima, Gemba said the situation is steadily being brought under control. He disclosed plans to hold an international conference on nuclear safety next year in one of the disaster-hit areas in northeastern Japan.