Japanese prime minister says nation needs to expand defense [View all]

[UnrepentantLiberal]

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON -- Japan needs to expand its defense budget because of increasing threats in the northeast Asia, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters shortly after meeting with President Obama Friday evening.

"In view of the increasingly severe security environment, Japan is determined to fulfill our responsibilities with the United States," Abe said. Abe met with Obama to talk about several issues and to shore up a security partnership between the two countries.

He said he explained to Obama Japan's need to exercise its right to self defense and to increase its defense budget.

Japan and South Korea, both U.S. allies, have been rattled in recent months by a North Korean testing of long range missiles and a nuclear bomb, weapons North Korea has said are designed to deter the United States.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/02/22/abe-obama-japan-north-korea/1940277/