Blinken: "Continuing Cooperation with Allies for North Korea Denuclearization" (Update)

Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken met with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu on the 16th in Japan and stated that they will continue to cooperate with allies for the denuclearization of North Korea.

According to major foreign media, Secretary Blinken, who is visiting Japan, made these remarks during a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu. Blinken said that this visit was arranged to reaffirm the U.S.-Japan alliance. He also mentioned that democratic values are being threatened in places like Myanmar and China.

In a tweet posted after arriving in Japan, Secretary Blinken emphasized, "The U.S.-Japan alliance remains the cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific."

Secretary Blinken arrived in Japan the previous day along with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. In the afternoon, the two countries’ foreign and defense chiefs will hold the 2+2 Security Consultative Committee meeting (2+2 meeting) and conduct a press conference afterward. Following this, Secretaries Blinken and Austin will pay a courtesy call on Japanese Prime Minister Suga.

After completing their visit to Japan, Secretaries Blinken and Austin will visit South Korea on the 17th and 18th, meet with President Moon Jae-in, and continue the '2+2 meeting' and ministerial talks.

During this U.S. Secretary of State and Defense Secretary’s tour of Japan and South Korea, discussions are expected to focus intensively on consultations with allies regarding the U.S. review of its North Korea policy, trilateral cooperation among the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, and alliance coordination measures to counter China.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.