JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES HELD SWEEPING DEFENSE TALKS THURSDAY TO DISCUSS THE REALIGNMENT OF U.S. TROOPS IN JAPAN, THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM AND PLANS FOR A JOINT MISSILE DEFENSE SHIELD, OFFICIALS SAID, ACCORDING TO AP. RICHARD LAWLESS, U.S. DEFENSE DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY FOR ASIA AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS, AND U.S. ARMY SECRETARY FRANCIS J. HARVEY, HELD SEPARATE MEETINGS IN TOKYO AS JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES NAIL DOWN PROPOSALS TO UPDATE THE ALLIANCE. LAWLESS KICKED OFF HIS TWO-DAY VISIT IN TALKS WITH KAZUYOSHI UMEMOTO OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY'S NORTH AMERICAN AFFAIRS BUREAU AND HIRONORI KANAZAWA OF THE DEFENSE AGENCY'S DEFENSE POLICY BUREAU, SAID A DEFENSE AGENCY OFFICIAL WHO DECLINED TO BE NAMED, CITING AGENCY POLICY. HARVEY MET SEPARATELY JAPAN'S DEFENSE AGENCY CHIEF FUKUSHIRO NUKAGA. THE TALKS FOLLOW SIMILAR DISCUSSIONS HELD IN HONOLULU, HAWAII, FROM MARCH 7-11.
