JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Japan's new prime minister says that he may call elections as early as next month because of expected good news on the country's ailing economy. In an exclusive interview with CNN's Tokyo bureau chief Marina Kamimura, Yoshiro Mori said that he is waiting for clear signs that Japan's economy is pulling out of its long slump, which at the beginning, he says, had a large effect on him and the Japanese people.</s>YOSHIRO MORI, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER (through translator): As I recall those days, I can still feel chill run down my spine, bubble economy was collapsing. Then there was also major wave of industrial structural changes. And on top of that, there was the financial collapse. At this very moment, the Japanese people may find things pretty tough for them, but I believe this is also a time for them to think about the future. We would like to encourage North Korea to come out of their shell and together with the republic of Korea and the United States, would like to see what we can do for North Korea so that that country will become a cooperative member of the international community.</s>WOODRUFF: The new Japanese prime minister commenting on North Korea among other things. Mr. Mori assumed the prime minister post last week after his predecessor, Keizo Obuchi, suffered a massive stroke. Search CNN.com CNNSI.com CNNmoney.com The Web
New Japanese Prime Minister Talks About Hope for Ailing Economy and Relations With North Korea