Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Monday Japan would inform the United States of its policy on the relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa if he meets with US President Barack Obama in Copenhagen.

"I would be grateful if I can meet with President Obama there," he said, "I would like to explain the government's policy by then in some way and seek understanding from the United States."

However, the Prime Minister declined to elaborate to reporters on the issue, or to clearly verify the "government's policy" on the relocation of US base.

He made the remarks after telling reporters earlier in the day "the time has come for us to make a decision on how to convey the government's way of thinking on the Futemma relocation issue to the United States."

The meeting between the two leaders is likely to take place in Copenhagen during a key UN climate change conference that runs from Monday to December 18.

(Xinhua News Agency December 8, 2009)