TOKYO -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi affirmed on Wednesday three-way cooperation with South Korea in responding to North Korea's recent missile tests, reflecting Washington's concern over strained ties between Tokyo and Seoul.
Hayashi, Blinken and their South Korean counterpart are scheduled to meet Feb. 12 in Hawaii, a trilateral gathering expected to focus on North Korea. But protracted tensions dividing Tokyo and Seoul threaten their ability to confront Pyongyang's provocations, leading the U.S. to push for a diplomatic thaw between its East Asian allies.
