Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke Friday with his counterparts in South Korea and Japan, vowing to strengthen military ties with both countries amid regional security concerns, according to their respective defense ministries.

Choi Sung-ryong, whose father was executed by North Korea, wants to pressure a pro-Pyongyang association in Tokyo over the abductees.

Japan has formally inaugurated an independent mission to the NATO military alliance as Tokyo and NATO seek to bolster cooperation amid escalating tensions from Russia, China and North Korea. Previously, the Japanese embassy in Belgium also covered NATO.

Japan's government said Tuesday it will ensure close coordination with the United States in coping with North Korea's missile and nuc

North Korea's People's Assembly was an opportunity to detail future international ambitions. This year, the US was not mentioned as Kim awaits indicators of Trump's attitude to Pyongyang.

Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Tuesday he is seeking to hold talks with new U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, as J

Tokyo’s prior relationships with NATO had ... due to the U.S. provocative military hegemony,” reported North Korea’s official KCNA news agency, monitored in Seoul on Monday.

Tokyo (Jiji Press ... apparently referring to threats from North Korea’s nuclear and missile development. “We will closely communicate with the South Korean government” on matters ...

With the fate of suspended South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol hanging in the balance, the country has also been left facing an uncertain future as it battles through the resulting political turmoil.

Rubio, Cho agree to maintain close coordination on N. Korean nuclear issue, Seoul says South Korean and US top diplomats have agreed to hold their first meeting in Washington “at the earliest mutually convenient date,

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and President Donald Trump will discuss the Indo-Pacific region and bilateral support between Japan and the United States on Feb. 7.