The US Defence Secretary Mattis is out with some comments on North Korea and Japan, highlighting that the significance of the US-Japan alliance.
Key Points:
Diplomats firmly in lead on Korean peninsula talks.
Recognise the importance of Japanese abductee issue.
Pause in US-South Korea military exercises to make diplomatic space.
Still retains strong collaborative defensive stance.
The US objective remains CVID for North Korea.
The US will cooperate with China where possible, will compete with China where necessary.