Better-than-expected performances by U.S. Democrats in midterm elections are likely to boost President Bill Clinton's confidence in pursuing his foreign policy prerogatives but have little impact on Japan-U.S. relations.
Although the Republicans retained control of the Senate and House, the president's party did fairly well in the elections, which will help Clinton promote his policies, a Foreign Ministry official said.
Satoshi Morimoto, chief researcher on security issues at the Nomura Research Institute, said that Congress will have to tone down its confrontation with Clinton on such issues as North Korea. Clinton is currently trying to gain congressional approval of a project to build two light-water nuclear reactors for North Korea.