Jun 27 07:29 AM US/EasternTOKYO, June 27 (AP) - (Kyodo) — Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is expected to reiterate his resolve to strengthen Japan-U.S. relations to better deal with uncertain situations in East Asia, including those concerning North Korea, in a foreign policy speech to be given in Tokyo on Tuesday, government sources said Saturday.
Aso is also expected to reiterate the importance of promoting close cooperation between Japan, South Korea and the United States to achieve an early resolution to the North Korean nuclear and missile issues as well as the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by the North, the sources said.
Aso initially sought to focus on strengthening Japan's assistance for Central Asian nations in the speech under the "Arc of Freedom and Prosperity" initiative to enhance ties with emerging economies in Asia and Europe, according to the sources.
But by shifting his focus to Japan-U.S. ties, Aso is seeking to clarify differences in foreign policy between his Liberal Democratic Party and the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan as the DPJ is likely to call for a review of a Japan-U.S. security agreement in its manifesto for a general election which must be held by the fall, they said.
The DPJ is also expected say in the manifesto that it will place priority on Asia in its foreign policy.
"It is better to persuade the public that the DPJ will not be able to protect Japan from North Korea's nuclear and missile threats or from those of international terrorism," one of the sources said.
Aso is expected to again criticize a suggestion made by DPJ heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa earlier this year that the role of the U.S. military in Japan should be trimmed in the future, and the prime minister is likely to stress the need to further enhance the Japan- U.S. alliance, the sources said.
Ozawa said in late February when he was head of the opposition party that the U.S. 7th Fleet would be enough to secure the U.S. presence in and around Japan.
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