U.S. Secretary of State Meets Japanese Prime Minister, Says "Compliments for Efforts to Strengthen South Korea-Japan Relations"

During his visit to Japan, U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and praised him for his efforts to strengthen relations between South Korea and Japan, the State Department said.

The State Department said in a press release that Secretary Blinken visited Japan following South Korea and spoke to Prime Minister Ishiba, stressing the importance of sustainable cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.

The State Department also shared deep concerns about China's dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea and stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the U.S. ironclad commitment to defending Japan and the willingness of the U.S. and Japan to continue to deepen strong economic and trade relations, the State Department said.

Blinken earlier condemned North Korea's deployment to Russia during a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and expressed deep concern over China's support for the Russian defense industry.