U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo on Tuesday during his latest overseas trip, which also includes visits to South Korea and France.
In Tokyo, as stated in a U.S. State Department announcement, Blinken "will review the significant progress made in the U.S.-Japan alliance over the past few years."
On Friday, a major arms deal was announced, under which the U.S. will supply Japan with medium-range missiles, related equipment, and training worth approximately 3.5 billion euros.
China has repeatedly expressed concerns about the potential deal, claiming it will impact stability and security in the region, but Japan and the U.S. reject these assertions.
The meeting occurred just a day after the U.S. accused Russia of supplying military equipment and training personnel for North Korea.
Speaking on Monday to leaders of South Korea, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced concerns about the deepening ties between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
"We have reason to believe that Moscow intends to share advanced space and satellite technologies with Pyongyang and that Putin may be close to reversing decades-long Russian policies and agreeing to North Korea's nuclear program," he stated.
These comments came just hours after North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea, amid political turmoil in South Korea. The country's President Yoon Suk-yeol faced impeachment following his brief declaration of a state of emergency on December 3.
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba expressed concerns that the accelerated pace of North Korean missile tests is enhancing its capabilities, just weeks before the return of elected U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House.
Last year, North Korea conducted tests of various systems with nuclear potential that threaten its neighbors and the U.S., including a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile that achieved the highest altitude and flight duration among all missiles launched by the country.
Blinken will conclude his trip in Paris, where he will meet with French officials to discuss events in the Middle East and European security, particularly regarding Ukraine.