Mattis moves to reassure Japan that US will not abandon it

THE American defence secretary yesterday sought to reassure Japan that it would not be abandoned by the Trump administration in the bid to reach a denuclearisation agreement with North Korea.

James Mattis, who has become accustomed to placating anxious allies, promised to maintain and strengthen security ties during a visit to Tokyo.

Japanese officials have been rattled by concessions to Kim Jong-un’s belligerent regime, including the surprise announcement that joint Us-south Korean war games had been suspended.

“We’re in the midst of very unprecedented negotiations right now with North Korea,” said Mr Mattis, as he stood alongside Itsunori Onodera, the Japanese defence minister. “But in this

‘In this dynamic time, the long-standing alliance between Japan and the United States stands firm’

dynamic time, the long-standing alliance between Japan and the United States stands firm.”

The day before he had offered similar assurances in Seoul, part of a regional tour designed to explain US intentions and hold together a united front.

Allies’ concerns intensified when Mr Trump announced without warning on June 12 that he was suspending joint exercises with South Korea.

The drills are viewed from Tokyo as one of a number of measures that demonstrate US military might and help contain the North Korean threat.

Mr Mattis said the decision was taken to create the diplomatic space needed for peace negotiations.

“At the same time, we maintain a strong collaborative defensive stance, to ensure our diplomats continue to negotiate from a position of unquestioned strength,” he said.

Although much of the international focus has been on the danger from Pyongyang’s recently developed longrange nuclear arsenal, near neighbours lie within striking distance of its shorter range weapons.

Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, has repeatedly called for the world to keep up its hard line approach to Kim Jong-un’s regime.

North Korea, which has previously vowed to sink Japan into the sea, fired two test missiles over the island nation last year.