TOKYO (AP) — U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will visit Japan next week to discuss North Korea and other issues ahead of two key regional meetings.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced Thursday that Pence will hold talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other top officials during his visit on Monday and Tuesday.
Suga says Pence's visit will be an "ideal opportunity" for the two sides to discuss North Korea, China and other regional issues and reaffirm their cooperation.
He says tough trade talks are not expected to be on the agenda.
Pence is to attend a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Singapore and a subsequent summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Papua New Guinea on behalf of President Donald Trump.
