Paper: U.S., Japan Strengthen Security Ties

"TOKYO -- Japan is set to agree to a U.S. proposal that the two countries protect classified military information in a move to further strengthen security ties, a Japanese newspaper reported on Friday. The agreement, set to be finalized in the first half of next year, will allow Tokyo and Washington to share more highly confidential information and have more Japanese companies take on tasks such as repairing U.S. navy vessels, the Asahi Shimbun said."