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U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, second from left, with Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, reviews a guard of honor before their meeting at the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo Friday, June 29, 2018 (1965-01-22) by Lolita C. Baldor and Ken Moritsugu | TOKYO – US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis is trying to calm the concerns of an Asian ally about America's engagement in the region as part of ongoing denuclearization negotiations with North Korea
Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said they agreed to continue joint military exercises and strengthen the reaction capacity of the US-led alliance. Japanese. transfers to North Korea that may escape economic sanctions. Mattis, after their meeting, told reporters that his visit represented "how much we prioritize this relationship between our two armies".
Mattis added that even though the United States is in "unprecedented negotiations" with North Korea, "in this dynamic period, the long-standing alliance between Japan and the United States remains There is absolute certainty between the two of us that we stand firm "and the relationship will not be affected by the denuclearization talks.
Onodera urged the international community to maintain sanctions and surveillance over North Korea. At an international security conference in Singapore, Onodera said North Korea had agreed to abandon nuclear weapons as early as 1994, but had continued to develop them secretly. Friday, he said that the United States and Japan should work together to dismantle "all weapons of mass destruction of North Korea, including biological and chemical weapons and ballistic missiles of all the polygons. " [19659013Mattisadeclaredthesewerediscussed"Possibilitiestoincreasecapabilitiestodeepenourcooperationandtoimproveregionalsecurity"
Noting the small blue ribbon pin that the Minister wore, Mattis offered his support for the efforts to obtain the release. of 12 Japanese citizens who were kidnapped by North Koreans four decades ago. The pin commemorates their kidnappings, and Japan has pleaded for their release as part of ongoing negotiations with Pyongyang
Mattis said such humanitarian issues are still present in the deliberations.
Mattis met on Thursday with the South Korean Defense. Minister Song Young-moo, assuring that the United States will maintain its current troop numbers on the Korean peninsula.
Speaking alongside Song, Mattis read a lengthy statement reinforcing the "foolproof" commitment of the United States to Seoul. use all diplomatic and military capabilities to fulfill this commitment. "
At the Tokyo meeting, Onodera presented Mattis with a paddle resembling those used by sumo wrestlers and was decorated with his name Mattis presented Onodera with a blue tie and small images of the Pentagon
Long-standing sensitivities about the presence of US troops in Japan were also raised, and Onodera said Mattis has agreed to work on realigning US troops in Japan as well as the increased safety of aircraft used by US military in the country.
Under the realignment, the United States is transferring several thousand Okinawa Marines to the American territory of Guam. and elsewhere as part of efforts to reduce the impact of the US military presence on the inhabitants of Okinawa.
The United States also plans to move a Marine Corps air station to an area less populated of Okinawa by local opponents who want the facility to move completely to Okinawa
Aircraft safety has been a growing problem. A series of incidents involving US military planes have fueled opposition to US bases in Japan in recent months, particularly in Okinawa, the southern island that is home to half of US troops in the US. Japan.
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