Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi left for the United States on Monday afternoon for talks with President George W. Bush and to attend a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the country.

During his five-day trip, the prime minister will also deliver a speech at a session of the 57th U.N. General Assembly in New York and is expected to hold bilateral talks with other world leaders.

Koizumi's trip comes amid growing optimism that his landmark talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il on Sept. 17 could help stabilize security in Northeast Asia.