TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will travel to South Korea on Monday to shore up security cooperation between the East Asian neighbours and their mutual U.S. ally that is meant to counter China's growing regional power.

By David Brunnstrom, Simon Lewis, Trevor Hunnicutt and Tim Kelly WASHINGTON/TOKYO (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to block Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion bid for U.S. Steel cast a shadow over Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Japan on Tuesday for farewell meetings with Washington's most important ally in Asia.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken lauded the close economic and security partnership between the US and Japan after a controversial move by US President Joe Biden to label Japan’s Nippon Steel Corp. as a national security risk.

There have been tensions in the Pacific region recently, with Russia allegedly providing North Korea with military equipment and training.View on euronews

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted during a visit to Tokyo on Tuesday that ties with Japan were stronger than ever, days after President Joe Biden blocked Nippon Steel's takeover of US Steel.

Nippon Steel said it wouldn't be deterred by Biden’s decision last week to block its $15 billion bid for the storied U.S. steelmaker.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with his counterpart in Japan on Tuesday, as he sought to reassure a nervous Tokyo that their alliance will remain robust even after Donald Trump returns to the White House in less than two weeks.

The United States “has confidence in the resilience of South Korea’s democracy and the strength of its institutions,” the U.S. Secretary of State said in Seoul.

On last trip as US top diplomat, Antony Blinken tells his Japanese counterpart he also came to Japan on his 1st trip in 2021 - Anadolu Ajansı

Overshadowed by the recent rift over US President Joe Biden's blocking of Nippon Steel's takeover of US Steel, top US diplomat Antony Blinken kicked off a visit to Japan on Tuesday, while claiming that the alliance between the two countries is stronger than ever.

Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have wrapped up their meeting in Tokyo.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted during a visit to Tokyo yesterday that ties with Japan were stronger than ever, days after US President Joe Biden blocked Nippon Steel’s takeover of US Steel.