US marine base kept in Japan

JAPAN'S prime minister has suggested the heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula contributed to his decision to break a campaign promise and keep a key US marine base in Okinawa.

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton yesterday commended prime minister Yukio Hatoyama for making "the difficult but nevertheless correct decision" to keep Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the strategically important island, which is near Taiwan. .

US officials travelling with Ms Clinton said the March sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan had deepened the understanding among Japanese officials about the importance of the US military presence in Okinawa.