Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis held a phone call with Malaysian Minister of Defense Hishammuddin Tun Hussein on December 4, 2017.
The two leaders discussed a range of regional security issues of mutual interest and concern, including North Korea. Secretary Mattis thanked Minister Hishammuddin for Malaysia's support to the international community's efforts to pressure North Korea to abandon it's dangerous and illegal nuclear and missile programs. The Secretary and the Minister also discussed regional counter-terrorism cooperation. The two leaders reaffirmed their shared appreciation of the situation and their desire to prevent the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria from gaining a foothold in Southeast Asia. The Secretary and Minister also exchanged views on enhancing U.S.-Malaysia bilateral defense cooperation.