US President Donald Trump and South Korea’s acting president Hwang Kyo-ahn vowed on Sunday to “strengthen” their joint defence capabilities against the belligerent North, the White House said. “President Trump reiterated our ironclad commitment to defend the [Republic of Korea], including through the provision of extended deterrence, using the full range of military capabilities,” the White House said in a statement. “The two leaders agreed to take steps to strengthen joint defence capabilities to defend against the North Korean threat.” Pentagon chief James Mattis is due to travel to South Korea on Wednesday and Japan on Friday on his first trip as defence secretary. The trip comes amid worries in the two long-standing American allies about the direction of US policy in their region under President Donald Trump.
