Mattis Visits Philippines, Thailand, South Korea

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October 2017

Travels with Jim Mattis, Secretary of Defense

In his fourth trip to Asia in his current post, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis took part in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers meeting in the Philippines and then attended the Royal Cremation Rites of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Thailand. He concluded his trip with a visit to South Korea to co-chair the 49th annual Security Consultative Meeting.

U.S. and South Korean defense leaders conduct a news conference.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks during a joint news conference with South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo following the 49th Security Consultative meeting in Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 28, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

U.S. and South Korean defense leaders hold a news conference.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo conduct a news conference following the 49th Security Consultative meeting in Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 28, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

U.S. and South Korean defense leaders shake hands during a security meeting.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis shakes hands with South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo during the 49th Security Consultative meeting in Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 28, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense leaders converse during security meetings in Seoul, South Korea.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, center, and Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at left, participate in the 49th Security Consultative meeting in Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 27, 2017. DoD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Dominique A. Pineiro | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis tours the presidential gardens in Seoul, South Korea.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis tours the presidential gardens at the Blue House before meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in during his visit to Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 27, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

U.S. and South Korean defense leaders render honors in Seoul, South Korea.

Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, far left, Defense Secretary James Mattis, second from left, South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo and South Korean Air Force Gen. Jeong Kyeong-doo, chairman of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, render honors during an honor guard welcome ceremony before the start of the 49th Security Consultative meeting in Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 28, 2017. DoD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Dominique A. Pineiro | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks with U.S. troops in South Korea.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis meets with U.S. troops in South Korea, Oct. 27, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

U.S. and South Korean defense leaders speak to reporters.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo speak to reporters at the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, Oct. 27, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

U.S. and South Korean defense leaders greet troops at the Demilitarized Zone.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo greet troops during a visit to the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, Oct. 27, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

U.S. and South Korean defense leaders visit the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo visit the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, Oct. 27, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

U.S. and South Korean defense leaders look out over the Demilitarized Zone.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis shakes hands with the South Korean defense minister.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo shake hands at the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea during a visit to the Joint Security Area in South Korea, Oct. 27, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is greeted at Osan Air Base, South Korea.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrives at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Oct. 27, 2017. Mattis is meeting with allies and partners in the region to discuss security challenges and shared interests. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks with Marines in Thailand.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks with Marines at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Oct. 25, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis shakes hands with Thailand's Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan in Bangkok, Oct. 25, 2017. Mattis will lead the U.S. presidential delegation attending the Royal Cremation Rites of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrives in Thailand.

U.S. Embassy officials greet Defense Secretary Jim Mattis after he arrived in Bangkok, Oct. 25, 2017. Mattis will lead the U.S. presidential delegation attending the Royal Cremation Rites of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis shakes hands with the Indonesian defense minister.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis shakes hands with Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu in Clark, Philippines, Oct. 25, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks to reporters.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks with reporters in Clark, Philippines, Oct. 25, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks with the Indian defense minister.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks with Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Clark, Philippines, Oct. 25, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis meets with the Malaysian defense minister.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis meets with Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein in Clark, Philippines, Oct. 25, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis meets with the president of the Philippines.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks with Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers meeting in Clark, Philippines, Oct. 24, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis attends a meeting in the Philippines.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis attends a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers in Clark, Philippines, Oct. 24, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense leaders meet in the Philippines.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks with Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana during a bilateral meeting in Clark, Philippines, Oct. 24, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis attends a handover meeting in the Philippines.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers handover of chairmanship from the Philippines to Singapore in Clark, Philippines, Oct. 24, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis shakes hand with the Singaporean defense minister.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis shakes hands with Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen following a meeting with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers in Clark, Philippines, Oct. 24, 2017. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis meets with the Japanese defense minister.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis meets with Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera in Clark, Philippines, Oct. 23, 2017. Mattis is conferring with many allies and partners from the Asia-Pacific region during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers meeting. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

U.S. and Japanese defense leaders shake hands in the Philippines.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis shakes hands with Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera in Clark, Philippines, Oct. 23, 2017. Mattis is conferring with many allies and partners from the Asia-Pacific region during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers meeting to discuss security challenges and shared interests. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Mattis attends an informal meeting with Asia-Pacific allies.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks during an informal meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers in Clark, Philippines, Oct. 23, 2017. Mattis is joining many allies and partners from the Asia-Pacific region to discuss security challenges and shared interests. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is greeted by Philippine defense officials after arriving in Clark, Philippines, Oct. 23, 2017. Mattis will meet with allies and partners from the Asia-Pacific region during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers meeting to discuss security challenges and shared interests. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis walks down stairs from an aircraft onto a flightline, where people wait to greet him.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrives in Clark, Philippines, Oct. 23, 2017. Mattis traveled to the Philippines to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers meeting. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith | Flickr Album

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Video

Defense Secretary, South Korean Defense Minister Hold Joint News Conference

Transcripts

Joint News Conference with Secretary Mattis and South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo in Seoul, South Korea
Remarks by Secretary Mattis, South Korean Defense Minister at DMZ, South Korea
Media Availability With Secretary Mattis En Route to Thailand
Remarks by Secretary Mattis, Japanese Defense Minister, South Korean Defense Minister at ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting
Media Availability With Secretary Mattis En Route to the Philippines

News Releases

Readout of Secretary of Defense Mattis’ Meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, National Security Advisor Chung Eui-yong and Foreign Affairs Minister Kang Kyung-Hwa
Readout of Secretary Mattis' Meeting with Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu
Readout of Secretary Mattis’ Trip to Thailand
Readout of Secretary Mattis' Meeting With Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
Readout of Secretary Mattis' Meeting With Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte
Readout of Secretary Mattis' Meeting With Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana
Readout of Secretary Mattis' Meeting With Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein
Readout of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' Meeting With Vietnamese Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich
Readout of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' ADMM-Plus Meeting
Readout of Defense Secretary Mattis' Meeting With South Korean Defense Minister
Readout of Defense Secretary Mattis' Meeting With Japanese Defense Minister
Readout of Defense Secretary Mattis' ASEAN Informal Meetings
United States, Japan, South Korea Defense Ministerial Meeting Joint Press Statement
Secretary Mattis Travels to Philippines, Thailand, South Korea

Mattis: U.S. Will Not Accept Nuclear-Armed North Korea

"I cannot imagine a condition under which the United States would accept North Korea as a nuclear power," Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said to reporters following talks with South Korean Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo in Seoul, South Korea. Story

Secretary Visits Demilitarized Zone With South Korean Counterpart

Standing in the Demilitarized Zone with South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the visit portrays in strong terms the difference between North Korea and South Korea. Story

More News

Secretary Stresses Regional Security at ASEAN Meeting
U.S., ASEAN Member Nations Address Shared Concerns, Mattis Says
Defense Secretary Affirms Commitment to Asia-Pacific Region
Mattis, ASEAN Counterparts Confer on Defense, Security Challenges
Mattis in Philippines to Strengthen Ties With Asia-Pacific Allies
Mattis Travels to Asia-Pacific to Reaffirm Commitment to Region

Travel Locations

Location Links

Philippines
Thailand
South Korea

ABOUT THE SECRETARY

Jim Mattis became the 26th defense secretary Jan. 20, 2017. During more than four decades in uniform, he commanded Marines at all levels, including in combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a joint force commander, he commanded U.S. Joint Forces Command, NATO's Supreme Allied Command for Transformation and U.S. Central Command.