Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone and new U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton agreed Friday to cooperate in a range of international issues in their first telephone talks after U.S. President Barack Obama sworn in, Japanese Foreign Ministry officials said.
The issues included the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear and abduction issues, situations in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the ongoing global economic crisis.

The two also agreed to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. security alliance, including steadfastly implementing the agreed relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam and other realignment measures regarding U.S. military presence in Japan.
Clinton was quoted as reiterating that the alliance with Japan is a "cornerstone" of U.S. policy in Asia, and said that she wants to work with Japan in dealing with various international issues.