Japan, US agree to work on base relocation

Japanese and US defense chiefs say they will try to reduce the burden imposed by US military bases on Okinawa to ease the way for the relocation of a US base there.Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel held a 30-minute telephone conversation on Saturday night at the request of the US side, Japanese (NHK World) Radio reported. Hagel expressed gratitude for a recent decision by Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima. The governor approved a request by the Japanese government to reclaim land for the relocation the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station within the prefecture. Onodera asked for help from the US to ease the strain on Okinawa, which hosts several US bases, and to gain consent from residents for the relocation plan. He proposed measures including the transfer of more drills by US Osprey transport aircraft out of the prefecture. Hagel pledged his government would make its utmost efforts.