US defence secretary James Mattis is set to visit South Korea and Japan next month, using his first official overseas trip to reaffirm America’s support for its Asian allies.
However, regional experts fear the visit, which comes amid rising alarm over North Korea‘s nuclear weapons programme and Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea, could be undermined by the “America First” rhetoric employed by new US President Donald Trump.
In Seoul, Mr Mattis is expected to meet his South Korean counterpart Han Min-koo to discuss the threat from North Korea, officials say. The former Marine general will also visit Tokyo, Reuters reported.
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