SPEAKING OF THE LEAGUE OF DEMOCRACIES...:

Japan, U.S. vow tighter military, security ties (Japan Times, 5/02/07)

Japan and the United States agreed to tighten their security ties Tuesday, pledging to share more ballistic missile defense and other military data and to conclude a treaty to more comprehensively protect military information.

In a joint statement released after the "two-plus-two" security talks, the foreign and defense ministers from both countries said the bilateral alliance complements NATO in contributing to world peace and stability and Japan would engage in more extensive cooperation with NATO.