Defense Secretary James Mattis’s first official trip will be to Japan and South Korea Feb. 1-4, the Pentagon announced. His first stop will be Korea, where he will meet with South Korean MInister of National Defense Han Min Koo and other senior leaders. He will then travel to Tokyo for meetings with Japanese Minister of Defense Tomomi Inada and other leaders. “The trip will underscore the importance of the United States to our enduring alliances with Japan and the Republic of Korea, and further strengthen US-Japan-Republic of Korea security cooperation,” according to a Defense Department release.
Air Force Magazine visited both countries last summer. See also: Closer than Ever and Keeping Peace in Korea.