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Elbridge Colby, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Defense Policy, will visit South Korea and Japan to discuss alliance modernization and trilateral security cooperation, focusing on South Korea's nuclear submarine acquisition and defense budget increases.

This trip, marking Colby's first since taking office in April 2024, aims to reinforce South Korea's role in deterring North Korean threats and emphasizes the need for greater military collaboration between South Korea and Japan in countering China. The discussions align with the U.S. National Defense Strategy's call for burden-sharing among allies amid escalating regional tensions.