Remarks to Reporters

1:00 pm

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE HILL: Sorry, I don’t have any time, because I have to catch my flight to Beijing. But this was a great opportunity to meet with Mrs. Nakayama to exchange views on this very, very difficult issue -- the issue of abductees. And I assured her that the United States is very concerned with making progress on the issue, and that whenever I am meeting with North Koreans I raise this issue; and that I am in very, very close contact with Ken Sasae about this issue, and that this issue is an important one for not only Japan-North Korea relations but, frankly, also for the U.S.-Japan relationship. And we will continue to be in very close contact. But you have to excuse me, because I don’t want to miss the Six-Party Talks. So I’ll see you later.

QUESTION: Do you have any comments regarding Prime Minister Fukuda’s new government?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: We had excellent relations with the previous government, and we very much look forward to having excellent relations with Prime Minister Fukuda and his very strong team. The U.S.-Japan relationship is a very strong relationship. It is one of our most important relationships in the world, and we very much look forward to working with Mr. Fukuda.

I have to catch my plane.