TOKYO: Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazwa said yesterday that May was the deadline for resolving a row over the relocation of a US military base on the southern island of Okinawa which risks fraying ties with Washington.

His comments came hours after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton summoned Japan's ambassador to Washington and urged Tokyo to implement an existing plan reached after years of negotiation.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said last week he wanted to spend several more months discussing how best to resolve a dispute over the Futenma air base.