"Secretary of Defense coordinates next week's visit to Japan...Possibility of visiting Korea"

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is in Japan next week to coordinate a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Ken Nakatani, Kyodo news agency reported, citing multiple sources.

Ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in January next year, Austin will confirm the U.S.-Japan alliance, which will not be swayed by regime change, and seek to strengthen cooperation in the security sector, the sources said.

According to Kyodo News, Austin may coordinate his visit to South Korea before and after his visit to Japan.

The agenda of the U.S.-Japan defense ministers' meeting is expected to address China's response to the development of nuclear and missile programs and the situation in Taiwan.

Earlier, Austin and Defense Minister Nakatani met in northern Australia's Darwin in November after attending a meeting of G7 defense ministers in Naples, Italy, in October.