Jun 27 09:24 PM US/Eastern
(AP) - TORONTO, June 27 (Kyodo) — Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and U.S. President Barack Obama reaffirmed the importance of the security alliance between the two countries, saying it is a cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
During their first face-to-face talks held on the fringes of the Group of 20 summit, Kan told Obama that it is important for the two countries to deepen their alliance further.
Kan also indicated he will visit the United States in September when a U.N. General Assembly meeting will be held.
Obama denounced the sinking of a South Korean warship in March for which North Korea has been found responsible, saying such an act is unacceptable.
The two leaders are also believed to have agreed that Japan and the United States will continue supporting South Korea in seeking tough action against North Korea over the sinking of the 1,200-ton Cheonan, which killed 46 South Korean sailors.
Kan and Obama are also believed to have taken up the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, for which Kan's predecessor Yukio Hatoyama came under heavy criticism for breaking a promise before stepping down in early June.
Kan has said he would honor the latest accord reached between Japan and the United States in late May.
The deal stipulates that the heliport functions of the Futenma facility located in a crowded residential area in Ginowan will be moved to a less densely populated coastal zone in Nago, another Okinawa city, roughly in line with the initial agreement struck in 2006.
Kan is facing a tough challenge in appeasing local opposition to the relocation plan, particularly after Hatoyama raised hopes for moving the Marine base out of the southern prefecture or even out of Japan.
The G-20 groups the Group of Seven major economies -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- plus key emerging economies, including Brazil, China, India and Russia.
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