Japan's Trade Minister Yoji Muto plans to visit the United States in March and ask the Trump administration to exempt Japan from upcoming tariffs on steel and cars, the Asahi newspaper reported on Thursday.

North Korea on Thursday expressed outrage over the move by the United States to bolster another nuclear alliance in the Asia-Pacific region. The US entered into a nuclear submarine deal with Australia under the AUKUS security partnership.

Japan's exports rose for a fourth consecutive month in January led by auto shipments to the United States, but if U.S. President Donald Trump goes through with a plan to impose hefty car tariffs, a sharp drop-off is likely.

Japan's trade minister is arranging a visit to the United States in coming weeks to seek exemptions from President Donald Trump's tariffs, local media said Thursday.

Japan's automobile industry association urged the government on Tuesday to try to shield Japanese automakers from tariffs that the United States may impose on imports of autos and parts.

North Korea's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that it will keep bolstering its nuclear force, denouncing a recent joint pledge by the United States, South Korea and Japan for its denuclearisation, according to state media KCNA.

Japan has already initiated communication with the United States following President Donald Trump's order on formulating plans for tariff proposal, a government spokesperson said on Friday.

North Korea on Tuesday denounced Japan's recent joint naval exercise with the United States and France as an attempt to revive their militaristic invasion ambitions.

Japan and the Philippines have agreed to further deepen their defense collaborations and start talks on an arrangement to protect shared military information in the face of mutual alarm over China’s i

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru (center) walks with U.S. President Donald Trump (right) during a visit to the White House, Feb. 7, 2025. Credit: Prime Minister’s Office of Japan Subscribe for ads-free reading Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru’s first meeting with U.

The American base on Okinawa has relocated 105 Marines. But an agreement to move 9,000 in total is colliding with the perceived threat from a rising China.