Published: April 21, 2010 at 1:56 AM
TOKYO, April 21 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama says the issue of relocating a U.S. Marine station will be resolved by end of May.
The issue involves relocating the station from Okinawa, but the government's proposal to move it to the Tokunoshima Island in the Kagoshima Prefecture in southwest Japan, about 125 miles northeast of Okinawa, has met with strong local public opposition.
"While this may be very tough weather, we must bring clear May weather to it without fail,'' Hatoyama told reporters Wednesday, Kyodo News reported. "'We are making all-out efforts to do that."
However, Hatoyama declined to discuss details, saying, "It's not something I should reveal here.''
The relocation has become an issue in U.S.-Japan bilateral relations since Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan came to power in September, supported by the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party.
The coalition parties had previously announced they would reach a decision by May. The Hatoyama government wants the Marine base, which includes an air station, moved completely out of Okinawa because of noise and other problems, or even out of Japan.
The United States, under an agreement signed in 2006 after years of negotiations, has said there can be no change in the deal, which calls for relocating the air station to a less populated region on Okinawa. Washington wants the deal implemented soon as it also involves moving about 8,000 Marines to Guam.
The Kyodo report, quoting sources, said the government had wanted to transfer a helicopter unit to Tokunoshima, However, the idea was rejected by some of the mayors on the island after a protest by about 15,000 people last Sunday.
The issue is heating up as the Hatoyama government's poll ratings dip.
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