Japanese Leader Tells Obama He’ll Work to Fulfill Base Pact

Japan’s new prime minister, Naoto Kan, told President Obama on Sunday that he would work to fulfill an agreement to relocate an American air base, moving to get beyond a contentious issue that had confounded his predecessor.

Making his diplomatic debut with a phone call to the White House, Mr. Kan also reaffirmed that his nation’s security alliance with the United States remained the “cornerstone” of Japanese foreign policy, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry released few details of the 15-minute call, which it said Mr. Obama had requested.

Mr. Kan, who succeeded Yukio Hatoyama on Friday, has promised to focus on pocketbook issues in an attempt to re-energize his governing Democratic Party, which has lost popularity since its election victory last summer.

However, he also inherits difficult decisions on relocating the American base, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Okinawa, a politically toxic issue that drove Mr. Hatoyama to resign after he gave in to the Obama administration’s demands that the base stay on the island.

It remains to be seen whether Mr. Kan can better balance Washington’s demands with those of Okinawans, who have opposed the base. Mr. Kan must also appease national public opinion, which turned against Mr. Hatoyama for appearing indecisive and causing mistrust with the United States, Japan’s longtime protector.

Mr. Hatoyama stepped down a week after announcing an agreement with the Obama administration to move the base to a less populated part of Okinawa. In making the deal, he broke a prominent campaign pledge to move the base off the island.

Under the new agreement, Tokyo has until August to announce the details of the new air field’s construction. That means Mr. Kan will likely have to make tough choices early in his government because any new construction could face mass opposition on Okinawa.