On January 14, the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) signed a memorandum of understanding to expand their regions for engagement, deepen their partnership, and engage new sectors that include supply chains, hydrogen, and digital and information technology. DFC CEO Adam Boehler and JBIC Governor Tadashi Maeda attended …

Army General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited Japan and South Korea for discussions with leaders on ways to improve bilateral and multilateral cooperation. General Milley said, “The United States, South Korea and Japan are stronger when we are together and shoulder to shoulder.” See more on the Joint Chiefs website Readout of meetings in Japan

In an Oct. 24 speech in Washington, D.C., Vice President Mike Pence focused on efforts to improve relations between the U.S. and China, but he also highlighted many points of contention, including debt diplomacy and military expansionism. Vice President Pence said, “The American people want better for the people of China. But in pursuit of …

The U.S. Navy is participating in a trilateral exercise called Malabar 2019 with the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Indian Navy. This is the 23rd such joint exercise and the first hosted by Japan. A U.S. Navy media report stated, “The multinational aspect of the exercise allows for practical training while honing skills, exchanging cultures, …

For the first time, naval ships from Japan, the United States, India and the Philippines have conducted a joint exercise in the South China Sea. The ships sailed from Busan, South Korea, to Singapore May 2–8 as part of an ongoing international commitment to protect trade routes and ensure economic security in the free and …

The Pacific Partnership, a multinational mission providing disaster response training and humanitarian aid, returns to the Indo-Pacific for its 14th year in 2019. This year’s team includes 500 experts from 11 countries including Japan. They work alongside host nations on infrastructure projects at local schools, health education, and preparedness training for security forces. Read more on Share.America.gov

The 2018 Asian Games are being held in Jakarta from August 18 to September 2. This is a multi-sport event held every four years. More than 40 countries send athletes to compete. The next games are scheduled for 2022 in Hangzhou, China. Japan will host the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya in 2026.

President Trump declared North Korea a state sponsor of terrorism and said the U.S. will levy the largest sanctions ever against North Korea. “This designation will impose further sanctions and penalties on North Korea and related persons, and supports our maximum pressure campaign to isolate the murderous regime” of Kim Jong-un, the president said at …

President Donald Trump met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae during the two-day G20 summit on Friday in Hamburg, Germany, in the first trilateral summit since Trump and Moon took office. The leaders are working to affirm trilateral coordination in stepping up pressure on North Korea to curb its development …

U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun, Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Kenji Kanasugi, and Republic of Korea Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Kim Hong-kyun met in Washington to discuss the situation in North Korea. • Full text of joint statement