U.S., Japan to continue military exercises

TOKYO — For the second time in two days, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is trying to assuage an Asian ally’s worries about America’s commitment to the region amid the ongoing denuclearization negotiations with North Korea.

Mattis met Friday with Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, and afterward told reporters that his visit represents “just how strongly we prioritize this relationship between our two militaries.”

Mattis added that even as the U.S. is in “unprecedented negotiations” with North Korea, “in this dynamic time, the longstanding alliance between Japan and the United States stands firm. There is absolute reassurance between the two of us that we stand firm” and the relationship will not be affected by the denuclearization talks.

Onodera earlier this month urged the international community to keep sanctions and surveillance on North Korea, saying it has a history of reneging. Speaking at an international security conference in Singapore, Onodera said North Korea agreed to give up nuclear weapons as early as 1994, but has continued to develop them in secret and until last year threatened surrounding countries with a series of ballistic missile launches.

He said the U.S. and Japan must work together toward the dismantlement of “all of North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction, including biological and chemical weapons and ballistic missiles of all ranges.”

Mattis said the two discussed “the opportunities to increase our alliance capabilities, to deepen our cooperation and to enhance regional security.”