Okada says 'redefinition' of Japan-U.S. alliance could be considered+

TOKYO, Sept. 17 Kyodo -
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said Thursday that the new Japanese
administration aims to settle issues outstanding between Tokyo and Washington
by the House of Councillors election next summer and then could consider
redefining the bilateral security alliance.

Okada, who assumed the ministerial post on Wednesday, also indicated his hope
of reaching a conclusion by the end of this year on whether or not to relocate
the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station within Okinawa Prefecture.
''Based on the assumption that various outstanding issues will be settled, I
think the next theme would be how to deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance. One thing
that is possible is to redefine it,'' Okada said.
But he also added that ''various ideas'' could be aired.
Okada's remarks came as he spoke about his priorities for his first 100 days in
office. The Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker said he would like to work on
issues related to the U.S. military realignment in Japan, which includes the
Futemma relocation as agreed in a 2006 accord, the alleged secret pacts between
the United States and Japan, and Japan's refueling mission in support of
U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in Indian Ocean.
The new administration led by DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama is seeking an
''equal and close'' relationship with the United States and has pledged to move
''in the direction of reexamining the realignment of the U.S. military forces
in Japan.'' The DPJ has also said that it will not extend the mission any more.
During an interview with Kyodo News and other media, Okada also suggested that
the new government's policy on North Korea will not be substantially different
from that of the previous government led by the conservative Liberal Democratic
Party.
He said he is not opposed to the U.S. idea of engaging directly with North
Korea in a bid to resume the stalled six-party nuclear talks, adding that there
is a need to cooperate closely with Washington over the issue.
''Bilateral talks between the United States and North Korea are not something
bad. The United States has said that such a move is within the framework of the
six-party talks...and I also think so,'' Okada said.
He also said ''there is no chance'' Japan will take a conciliatory attitude
toward North Korea as long as it continues to launch missiles and conduct
nuclear tests.
''We will await a shift in policy by North Korea while strengthening sanctions
against it...based on the U.N. Security Council resolution (aimed at punishing
the country),'' he said.
The six party-talks on denuclearizing North Korea involve the two Koreas,
China, Japan, Russia and the United States.
The United States and North Korea appear to be exploring the possibility of
holding direct dialogue. North Korea has recently demonstrated an eagerness for
dialogue as indicated by the release of two detained U.S. journalists following
a visit to Pyongyang by former U.S. President Bill Clinton.
Meanwhile, Okada also reiterated his desire to swiftly get to the bottom of
alleged secret pacts between Japan and the United States -- two related to the
revision of the Japan-U.S. security treaty in 1960 and two related to the 1972
reversion of Okinawa to Japanese sovereignty from U.S. control.
''It would be very significant to reveal the facts,'' he said.
Okada also said he would like officials at overseas diplomatic missions to
return to Japan for a certain period -- for two months, for example -- to
engage in the investigation.
Okada has already ordered the Foreign Ministry's top bureaucrat to investigate
the issue and to report on the outcome of the investigation around the end of
November.
Among the four secret pacts, an alleged 1960 nuclear deal drew renewed
attention earlier this year following statements to the media by former
Japanese vice foreign ministers who said the information had been passed down
to key bureaucrats and managed by them.
Under the deal, Tokyo is alleged to have given tacit approval for stopovers by
U.S. military aircraft or vessels carrying nuclear weapons, although the
security treaty stipulates the need for Washington to hold prior consultations
with Tokyo before bringing nuclear weapons into Japan.
The issue is sensitive for Japan, the only country to have suffered atomic
bombings. Since 1967, Japan claims to have maintained the three principles of
not possessing, producing or permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons
into the country.
==Kyodo