June 25, 2010
Click for Video
The top uniformed officers of Japan and the United States have agreed to maintain a firm bilateral alliance and have also discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula, following the sinking of a South Korean naval vessel in March.
The chief of Japan's Self-Defense Forces Joint Staff Office, General Ryoichi Oriki, met Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the US Department of Defense outside Washington on Thursday.
Oriki and Mullen affirmed the importance of maintaining a firm Japan-US alliance. They also exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and agreed to work closely together to deal with the sinking of the South Korean corvette, Cheonan, that left 46 sailors dead.International investigators blamed a torpedo fired by a North Korean submarine.
In a statement issued after the meeting, Admiral Mullen called Japan an important friend and ally. He said the alliance with Japan is essential to maintaining the safety and prosperity of the 2 countries and to ensure peace and stability in the region.
Before their meeting, the 2 admirals planted an elm tree in the inner garden of the US Defense Department to mark the 50th anniversary of the revision of the Japan-US Security Treaty.
2010/06/25 16:09(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
Posts
