Obama interviewed by Japan broadcaster

US President Barack Obama will kick off his Asian tour on Friday. Japan is his first stop and it's also the first time that Obama visit Japan since the new Japanese government took office. Prior to his departure, Japanese broadcaster NHK has interviewed the US President about their bilateral relationship and its stands on the Korean Peninsular.

Obama was asked about Japan's new government's plans to move a major US Marine Base in Okinawa.

Barack Obama, said, "In any bilateral relationship, I think there's constantly adjusting to new issues that may come up, but I'm confident that you won't see fundamental changes to our relationship."

The relocation of the US Base has threatened to sour the US-Japan ties.

Some 47 thousand American troops are based in Japan and more than half of them in Okinawa.

The two countries agreed in 2006 to relocate the base from an urban area to another part of the island. But Japan's August election has rekindled opposition.