Japan PM Vows Assertive Foreign Policy

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks to the media during his New Year's press conference at his official residence in Tokyo, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007. Abe said that his government will pursue assertive foreign policy and further strengthen ties with the U.S. as the security situation surrounding Japan goes through major changes. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) (Shizuo Kambayashi - AP)

TOKYO -- Japan will pursue assertive foreign policies and strengthen its ties with the U.S. and Europe in response to new security threats in the region, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday.

Abe, who took office in September, has taken a tougher stance on the international stage than many of his predecessors, appealing to a greater sense of nationalism in Japan following more than a decade of economic stagnation.

"The security situation surrounding Japan has changed drastically with the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missiles as well as a series of regional conflicts," Abe said. "To protect Japan's peace, independence and democracy and the lives of the Japanese, we need to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance."

Within days following North Korea's nuclear test on Oct. 9, Abe's government responded by imposing sanctions on North Korea and actively pushed with the United States for the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution punishing it.

Abe said Thursday that Japan will continue to "make efforts" for the early resumption of international talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programs.

The six-country talks, which also involve the U.S., China, South Korea and Russia, resumed last month in Beijing but ended without progress and without a date for the next meeting.

Abe said he hopes to strengthen ties with countries that share similar views on democracy and human rights during a trip to Europe that begins next week.

"I hope that Japan will gain trust through international cooperation. I think that would lead to Japan's becoming a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council in the future," he said.

Despite being the world's second-largest economy, Japan has failed so far to win enough global support for its bid for a council seat. China, which has had rocky relations with Japan in recent years, has opposed Tokyo's proposal.