The World - News from July 24, 1986

Japan’s newly reelected Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone promised to placate international partners who are upset over Japan’s huge trade surplus--$52.6 billion at the end of March. But he skirted the issue of whether he hopes to stay in office beyond October, when he is due to step down. In his first news conference since Parliament reelected him Tuesday, Nakasone also promised to overhaul the economy and privatize the state-owned railroads. Nakasone, 68, is nearing the end of his second two-year term as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, a post that traditionally carries with it the premiership.