US President Barack Obama has pledged to work closely with the new Japanese government following the election of a new prime minister on Friday, DPA reported.
The White House issued a statement welcoming Naoto Kan's selection by his Democratic Party of Japan just days after his predecessor, Yukio Hatoyama, resigned amid a popularity that was in a tailspin.
"The president is committed to maintaining excellent cooperation with the new Japanese government and will work closely together with Prime Minister Kan on bilateral, regional and global issues," said Mike Hammer, a spokesman for the National Security Council.
Hatoyama was under pressure to resign ahead of next month's elections. He had fallen into public disfavour after flip-flopping on a campaign pledge to relocate the massive US military base on Okinawa.
The base is hugely unpopular on the southern island. Hatoyama instead endorsed a previous plan to move the base to a less-populated area of the island.