Japan's PM Kan apologizes to Okinawa

OKINAWA, Japan, June 23 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan apologized to the people of Okinawa Wednesday for bearing the bulk of the United States military presence in Japan.

Kan said his government would do what it can to ease the burden placed on Okinawa Prefecture for relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, Japan's Kyodo News reports.

Kan made the pledge at a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa in the closing days of World War II.

It was his first visit to the island since becoming prime minister earlier this month after his predecessor Yukio Hatoyama stepped down over the Futenma relocation issue.

Kan told the gathering of some 5,500 that acceptance of the U.S. military presence "has led to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region."

Residents of Okinawa have called for reducing the huge U.S. military presence on their island due to noise and crimes involving U.S. servicemen.