US Defense Secretary James Mattis has concluded his two-nation trip to Asia. It was his first overseas trip as head of the Pentagon, and featured stops in Japan and South Korea.

In Japan he met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He also held talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida to discuss the DPRK, and the East and South China Seas. Mattis reaffirmed Washington's commitment to its defense treaty with Tokyo, adding that the US will support Japan's control of the disputed Diaoyu Islands.

He also said the US would help defend South Korea from threats from the DPRK. This will include the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system or THAAD on the Korean Peninsula.