TOKYO - OCTOBER 21: US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (L) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) prior to their meeting at the latter's official residence on October 21, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Gates is on the second day of his two-day visit to the country to discuss key issues with the nation's new leader, such as Tokyo's decision to end the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean and the planned relocation of the US Marine base in Okinawa. Getty Images logo Getty Images 1 month ago

TOKYO - OCTOBER 21: US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (L) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) prior to their meeting at the latter's official residence on October 21, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Gates is on the second day of his two-day visit to the country to discuss key issues with the nation's new leader, such as Tokyo's decision to end the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean and the planned relocation of the US Marine base in Okinawa.

More Photos of

Explore Photos of Related Topics

  1. Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) shakes hands with Deputy Prime Minister Naoto Kan (C) after Hatoyama's first policy speech at the Diet in Tokyo on October 26 , 2009. Hatoyama launched a broadside against the excesses of capitalism, in his first parliamentary address since taking office last month. At left is Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.
  2. Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (L) is welcomed by his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva (R) upon his arrival for the the East Asia Summit meeting during the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in the southern Thai resort town of Hua Hin on October 25, 2009. Japan's new Prime Minister Hatoyama pressed plans for a new East Asian community at a summit on October 24, saying that the region should aspire to lead the world.
  3. Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (L) is welcomed by his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva (R) upon his arrival for the the East Asia Summit meeting during the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in the southern Thai resort town of Hua Hin on October 25, 2009. Japan's new Prime Minister Hatoyama pressed plans for a new East Asian community at a summit on October 24, saying that the region should aspire to lead the world.
  4. Japanese Pime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) is welcomed by his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva (L) upon his arrival for the Gala Dinner in the southern Thai resort town of Hua Hin on October 24, 2009. Prime Minister Hatoyama is here to attend the Southeastan Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit meeting.
  5. Japan's new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, left, accompanied by Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, center, is greeted by a Diet guard upon arriving for a ceremonial opening of the extraordinary Diet session by Emperor Akihito at the upper house of parliament in Tokyo, Japan, Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. Japan's new, largely untested Cabinet is starting out with high public approval ratings amid hopes that Hatoyama's government will reinvigorate the world's second-largest economy, polls showed Friday.
  6. New Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (C) and his cabinet members pose for photographers after the first cabinet meeting at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo on September 16, 2009. Also seen are Financial Affairs and Postal Reform Minister Shizuka Kamei (L), Vice Prime Minister Naoto Kan (2nd L), Consumer Affairs and Gender Equality Minister Mizuho Fukushima (2nd R) and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada (R). The centre-left Prime Minister Hatoyama acclaimed a turning point in history September 16 as he took command of Asia's biggest economy with a pledge to return power to the people.
  7. Japan's new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama arrives at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009. Longtime opposition leader Hatoyama was elected prime minister Wednesday, promising to reinvigorate Japan's economy and shake up government with his left-of-center party after more than 50 years of nearly unbroken rule by conservatives.
  8. Japan's new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, center, arrives at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009. Longtime opposition leader Hatoyama was elected prime minister Wednesday, promising to reinvigorate Japan's economy and shake up government with his left-of-center party after more than 50 years of nearly unbroken rule by conservatives.
  9. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and his South Korean counterpart Kim Tae-young participate in a joint news conference at South Korea's defense ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. Gates said Thursday that North Korea continues to pose a grave threat to international peace and pledged to protect South Korea with Washington's full military might, including its nuclear capabilities.
  10. Protesters holding portraits of U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and his South Korean counterpart Kim Tae-young shout a slogan during a rally against the Security Consultative Meeting, or SCM, between the U.S. and South Korea in front of the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. Gates said Wednesday the United States will never accept a North Korea with atomic bombs, saying the communist regime poses threats "even more lethal and destabilizing."
  11. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (R) shakes hands with his South Korean counterpart Kim Tae-young during Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) at the Defense Ministry in Seoul October 22, 2009. Gates said on Thursday that North Korea poses a threat to his country's allies in North Asia and promised to protect them under the U.S. nuclear deterrent.
  12. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, shakes hands with his South Korean counterpart Kim Tae-young during Security Consultative Meeting or SCM at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. Gates said Wednesday the United States will never accept a North Korea with atomic bombs, saying the communist regime poses threats "even more lethal and destabilizing."
  13. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, arrives to sign the guest book before meeting South Korean Prime Minister Chung Un-chan as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kathleen Stephens looks on at the Government Complex in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. Gates said Wednesday the United States will never accept a North Korea with atomic bombs, saying the communist regime poses threats "even more lethal and destabilizing" than before.
  14. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (L) talks with Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo October 20, 2009. The United States wants to stick to a deal on realigning U.S. troops in Japan, Defense Secretary Gates said on Tuesday, giving Japan's new government little room to move on an issue that could test ties.
  15. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (R) shakes hands with Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo October 20, 2009. The United States wants to stick to a deal on realigning U.S. troops in Japan, Defense Secretary Gates said on Tuesday, giving Japan's new government little room to move on an issue that could test ties.
  16. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, is seen with Adm. Robert Willard, center, the new head of the U.S. Pacific Command, and Adm. Michael Mullen, right, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a ceremony at Pacific Command headquarters at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. A fighter pilot who made a cameo appearance as a Tom Cruise foe in "Top Gun" has taken over as the top U.S. military commander in Asia and the Pacific. Willard assumed control of the U.S. Pacific Command in a ceremony presided over by Defense Secretary Gates, who stopped in Hawaii en route to meetings in Japan and South Korea.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (R) and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev take part in the opening ceremony of a new bridge over the River Volga in Ulyanovsk, November 24, 2009.
  2. NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 24: Bart Scott of the New York Jets unloads turkeys for the Food Bank For New York City at 'CHIPS' Park Slope Christian Help on November 24, 2009 in New York City.
  3. NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 24: Bart Scott of the New York Jets serves lunch at the Food Bank For New York City at 'CHIPS' Park Slope Christian Help on November 24, 2009 in New York City.
  4. NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 24: Bart Scott of the New York Jets unloads turkeys for the Food Bank For New York City at 'CHIPS' Park Slope Christian Help on November 24, 2009 in New York City.
  5. U.S. President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hold a joint news conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington November 24, 2009.
  6. NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 24: Bart Scott of the New York Jets serves lunch at the Food Bank For New York City at 'CHIPS' Park Slope Christian Help on November 24, 2009 in New York City.
  7. PORTO, PORTUGAL - NOVEMBER 24: Captain John Terry speaks during the Chelsea press conference, prior to UEFA Champions League Group D match against FC Porto, at the Estadio Dragao on November 24, 2009 in Porto, Portugal.
  8. WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 24: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (L) and U.S. President Barack Obama participates in a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House November 24, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Obama is scheduled to host Prime Minister Singh in the administration�s first state visit with an Oval Office meeting, a joint news conference and a state dinner.
  9. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (L) listens as U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington November 24, 2009.
  10. FC Zurich's Hannu Tihinen (R) runs next to his soccer coach Bernard Challandes during a soccer training session at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid November 24, 2009. FC Zurich will play against Real Madrid in a Champions League soccer match in Madrid on Wednesday.
  11. Zurich's goalkeeper Johnny Leoni throws a ball during a training session at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Tuesday Nov. 24, 2009. Zurich will play Real Madrid Wednesday a Group C Champions League soccer match.
  12. Spain's Fernando Verdasco reacts during his ATP World Tour Finals tennis match against Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro at the O2 Arena in London, Tuesday Nov. 24, 2009.
  13. Zurich's goalkeeper Andrea Guatelli of Italy is seen during a training session at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Tuesday Nov. 24, 2009. Zurich will play Real Madrid Wednesday a Group C Champions League soccer match.
  14. Zurich's Silvan Aegerter, left and Johan Vonlanthen work out during a training session at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Tuesday Nov. 24, 2009. Zurich will play Real Madrid Wednesday a Group C Champions League soccer match.
  15. Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro returns the ball to Spain's Fernando Verdasco, during their ATP World Tour Finals tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, Tuesday Nov. 24, 2009.
  16. Zurich's coach Bernard Challandes, top centre, left speaks with his players during a training session at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Tuesday Nov. 24, 2009. Zurich will play Real Madrid Wednesday a Group C Champions League soccer match.