Gates to visit Japan, South Korea ahead of NATO meeting

Washington, Oct 15 (DPA) US Defence Secretary Robert Gates will travel to Japan and South Korea next week before attending a NATO gathering in Slovakia, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

Gates will arrive in Japan to discuss regional security issues and the “ongoing transformation” of the US-Japanese alliance, spokesman Geoff Morrell said. Gates will affirm the US commitment to South Korea defence during the visit to Seoul, Morrell said.

At the meeting of NATO defence ministers in Bratislava Oct 23, the discussion will largely focus on the war in Afghanistan, Morrell said.