The United States Department of State announced today that U.S. Secretary of State and Defense Anthony Plinkin and Austin will be visiting Japan and South Korea in mid - March as part of their first foreign trip since taking office.

The United States Foreign Affairs Statement states: "Foreign Minister Anthony Plinkin will visit Tokyo (Japan) and Seoul (Republic of Korea), from 15 to 18 March, to confirm the commitment of the United States to strengthen alliances and focus attention on cooperation that will promote peace, security and prosperity in the Indian and Pacific Oceans region and around the world."

Foreign Affairs indicated that on 16 and 17 March, Blinkin would visit Tokyo with the Minister of Defence (Austin) and participate in the meeting of the American-Japanese Advisory Committee, where Blinkin and Austin would meet with Japanese Foreign and Defence Ministers Motegi and Kissi, to discuss "bilateral and global issues."

Earlier, Japanese newspaper "Nikai" reported that the Foreign and Defense Ministers of both Japan and the United States will hold the 2 + 2 talks in Tokyo and are expected to confirm cooperation to counter Chinese activity around the disputed Senkaku Islands.

Subsequently, from March 17 to 18, in Seoul, the US Ministers of State and Defense will meet with their South Korean counterparts. During visits to Japan and Korea, meetings with young journalists are also scheduled.

The U.S. Secretary of State said he would return to Washington on March 18.