Clinton's Japan warning to N Korea

U.S. Secretary of State Clinton met with Japan counterparts on the first leg of an Asian tour, coming as the Cabinet and economy are both reeling.

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Visiting a shrine dedicated to the imperial founder of modern Japan, Clinton on the first leg of her inaugural Asian tour, spoke of promoting "balance and harmony" in U.S. foreign policy , drawing an implicit contrast to U.S. President George W. Bush's administration.

Dan Sloan reports.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Japanese counterparts Tuesday, coming as the host nation's Cabinet and economy are both reeling.

Visiting a shrine dedicated to the imperial founder of modern Japan, Clinton spoke of promoting "balance and harmony" in U.S. foreign policy , drawing an implicit contrast to U.S. President George W. Bush's administration.

Later she met Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone, as the popularity of Prime Minister Taro Aso's government is nearing historic lows and the nation is mired deep in recession.

In her first trip as secretary of state, Clinton plans to discuss how to tackle the global financial crisis, North Korea's nuclear program and the war in Afghanistan.

Nakasone said by beginning her trip in Japan, Clinton showed how important Tokyo was to Washington, and Aso will visit U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington later this month.

Nonetheless, Clinton also will chat on her visit with Japan opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa, whose party may replace the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in elections later this year.

Beyond politics, the world's No. 2 economy is still shuddering from its worst quarterly contraction since 1974, while Japanese officials would like assurances the U.S. will not become more protectionist, particularly as exports have fallen sharply in the wake of the global financial crisis.

On Japan neighbor North Korea, Clinton said any missile launch, which Pyongyang is reportedly preparing, would be "very unhelpful" to a better U.S. relationship.

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"We must advance out effort to secure the complete and verifiable denuclearization of North Korea. The possible missile launch that North Korea is talking about would be very unhelpful."

After concluding her Tokyo visit, Clinton will continue on to Jakarta, Seoul and Beijing, before returning to Washington.

Dan Sloan reporting.