Tokyo: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi held their inaugural in-person meeting in Tokyo as the two nations aim to bolster their defense alliance in response to China's assertive actions and North Korea's military advancements.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting took place shortly after North Korea's test-firing of sea-to-surface strategic cruise missiles in the Yellow Sea. This missile launch happened on the eve of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. During their discussions, Hegseth and Koizumi focused on enhancing defense capabilities, upgrading command and control frameworks, and improving bilateral training and exercises.
Hegseth's trip to Asia includes visits to Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Korea. In South Korea, he plans to visit the Demilitarized Zone, participate in the Security Consultative Meeting, and meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.