U.S. state affairs and defense visits to Japan, talks with Suga, discusses denuclearization of North Korea

Reconfirmation of the direction of the Sengaku Islands
Promise to block attempts to destroy the East China Sea phenomenon

[이미지출처=로이터연합뉴스]

[아시아경제 뉴욕=백종민 특파원] While visiting Japan, Secretary of State Tony Blincoln and Defense Minister Lloyd Austin met Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, pledged to defend the Senkaku Islands, threatened by China, and discussed the issue of North Korea’s denuclearization.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a press release released on the 16th (local time), “Ministers Blingen and Austin met with Prime Minister Suga and confirmed that the US-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of peace and security prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.” .

“The US and Japan discussed strengthening democracy, addressing North Korea’s nuclear threat, recovering from Corona 19, protecting global health and security, and climate change,” said a spokeswoman for Price.

Secretary Blincoln and Secretary Austin have confirmed to Suga that Japan’s Senkaku Islands (Chinese name Diaoyudao) is the target of US defense and emphasized that the US will stand firm against any attempt to harm the current situation in the East China Sea.

It is reported that Prime Minister Suga will attend the’Quad’ summit beforehand and visit the United States in person next month after this interview and hold a summit meeting with US President Joe Biden.

New York = correspondent Baek Jong-min [email protected]