Jun 28 02:17 AM US/Eastern
TORONTO, June 28 (AP) - (Kyodo) — Japan and the United States agreed Sunday to steadily implement the relocation of a U.S. Marine base in Okinawa in line with their accord reached in May, while working closely on responses to North Korea's sinking of a South Korean warship and Iran's nuclear programs.
During their first formal meeting that was held on the fringes of the Group of 20 summit in Canada, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and U.S. President Barack Obama also agreed to make efforts to alleviate the burden of people in Okinawa, where a host of U.S. military bases are concentrated.
Kan and Obama also reaffirmed the importance of the security alliance between the two countries.
"We both noted the significance of 50 years of a U.S.-Japan alliance that has been a cornerstone not only of our two nations' security but also of peace and prosperity throughout Asia," Obama told reporters.
Kan also said the Japan-U.S. alliance has played "an indispensable role" in ensuring peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
On the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, the two leaders shared the view that Tokyo and Washington will tackle the issue based on the fresh bilateral accord announced by the two countries on May 28.
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 former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama raised hopes for moving the Marine base out of the southern prefecture or even out of Japan.
In Sunday's talks, Obama told Kan he understands that the relocation of the Marine base is not an easy issue for the Japanese government and that he will make efforts in order for the U.S. forces to become more accepted in the region, a Japanese official said.
The two leaders also shared concerns over what Obama called "very pressing security issues."
They agreed to work closely over how to respond to the fatal sinking of the 1,200-ton Cheonan, for which Pyongyang has been blamed, and Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Obama denounced North Korea, saying, "Such provocations are unacceptable." A multinational investigation team concluded last month that a North Korean torpedo sank the South Korean vessel on March 26 and killed 46 sailors, but Pyongyang has denied involvement.
They agreed that Japan and the United States will continue supporting South Korea in seeking tough action against North Korea at the U.N. Security Council.
Kan briefed Obama about Japan's efforts in providing aid to Afghanistan, including the training of local police officers. The Japanese prime minister pledged to continue support for the war-torn country, while Obama expressed gratitude for the work.
In the meeting, Kan indicated he will visit the United States in September when a U.N. General Assembly meeting will be held.
Obama also said he is "looking forward to visiting Japan" in November for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Yokohama.
He also thanked Kan for Japan's offer to support U.S. efforts to cope with an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the worst of its kind in U.S. history, the official said.
While the two leaders described the talks as "excellent" and "candid," they did not go so far as to address each other by first name, something Hatoyama and Obama did when they first held talks last September.
As political topics dominated the 35-minute meeting, Kan and Obama only briefly touched on economic issues such as promoting clean energy and trade, the official said.
The G-20 comprises 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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