U.S. Secretary Mattis Visits Seoul for Defense Talks as Tensions Climb

U.S. Secretary Mattis Visits Seoul for Defense Talks as Tensions Climb
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (C) joins hands with his South Korean counterpart Song Young-moo (L) and Japanese counterpart Itsunori Onodera in the Philippines' Clark special economic zone on Oct. 23, 2017. Video screenshot/Reuters
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SEOUL–U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis flew into Seoul on Friday for annual defense talks as tensions with North Korea climb ahead of a visit to the region next month by President Donald Trump.

Mattis has emphasized diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis during his week-long trip to Asia, even as North Korea’s weapons tests and bellicose verbal exchanges between Pyongyang and Washington stoke fears of an armed confrontation.