HomeSecretary of State’s Travel …Travel to Tokyo, Seoul, and Anchorage, March 15-19, 2021 hide Travel to Tokyo, Seoul, and Anchorage, March 15-19, 2021 Close Summary Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken traveled to Tokyo, Japan, Seoul, Republic of Korea (ROK), and Anchorage, Alaska, March 15-19 to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to strengthening our alliances and to highlight cooperation that promotes peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world. On March 16-17 in Tokyo, Secretary Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III attended the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee (“2+2”) meeting hosted by Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi and Minister of Defense Nobuo Kishi. Secretary Blinken met with Minister Motegi and other senior officials to discuss a range of bilateral and global issues. Secretary Blinken met virtually with business leaders to highlight the importance of U.S.-Japan economic ties and discuss the economic impact of COVID-19. Secretary Blinken also hosted a virtual roundtable with emerging Japanese journalists to discuss the future of the U.S.-Japan Alliance, the role of a free press in promoting good governance and defending democracy, and the widespread benefits from advancing gender equity and opportunities for women worldwide. On March 17-18 in Seoul, Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin attended a U.S.-ROK Foreign and Defense Ministerial (“2+2”) hosted by the ROK’s Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and Minister of Defense Suh Wook. Secretary Blinken met with Foreign Minister Chung and other senior officials to discuss issues of bilateral and global importance. Secretary Blinken also met virtually with Korean youth leaders and hosted a virtual roundtable with emerging Korean journalists to discuss the importance of the U.S.-ROK Alliance in promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and across the globe. On March 18-19 in Anchorage, Secretary Blinken met with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) government officials. Alaska March 19, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan Statements to the Press March 18, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Director Yang And State Councilor Wang At the Top of Their Meeting Republic of Korea March 18, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Yang Man-Hee of Seoul Broadcasting System March 18, 2021 Joint Statement of the 2021 Republic of Korea – United States Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”) March 18, 2021 Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin’s Meeting with Republic of Korea President Moon March 18, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Lee So-Jung of Korean Broadcasting System March 18, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in Before Their Meeting March 18, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, and Republic of Korea Defense Minister Suh Wook at a Joint Press Availability March 17, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong Before Their Meeting March 17, 2021 Strengthening the Ironclad U.S.-ROK Alliance March 17, 2021 Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Chung March 17, 2021 U.S.-ROK Alliance – Expanding Bilateral Cooperation for the 21st Century March 17, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken at Virtual Meet and Greet with Mission Republic of Korea Staff and Family Members Japan March 17, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Yuki Morikawa of TV Asahi March 17, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Izumi Oguri of Nippon TV March 16, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi at a Joint Press Availability March 16, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga Before Their Meeting March 16, 2021 Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin’s Meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Suga March 16, 2021 U.S.-Japan Joint Press Statement March 16, 2021 The United States and Japan Expand Indo-Pacific Cooperation March 16, 2021 Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi March 16, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi Before Their Meeting March 16, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi Before Their Meeting March 16, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken at a Virtual Meet & Greet with Mission Japan Staff and Family Members March 15, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken at a Virtual Meeting with Japanese Women Entrepreneurs March 15, 2021 Secretary Antony J. Blinken at a Virtual Meeting with Japanese Business Leaders March 14, 2021 Reaffirming the Unbreakable U.S.-Japan Alliance Trip Preview March 16, 2021 Senior Administration Officials Preview of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s Trip to Anchorage, Alaska March 12, 2021 Briefing with Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Sung Kim and Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs David F. Helvey on the Secretaries’ Upcoming Trip to Japan and Republic of Korea Public Schedule March 18, 2021 Public Schedule – March 18, 2021 March 16, 2021 Public Schedule – March 17, 2021 March 15, 2021 Public Schedule – March 16, 2021 March 14, 2021 Public Schedule – March 15, 2021 Tags Alaska Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Japan The Secretary of State South Korea