US Vice President Mike Pence has arrived in Japan on the second stop of his Asia swing that he says will boost pressure on North Korea over its nuclear program during the Winter Olympic games in the South.
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In Japan, Pence says he will meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to show "solidarity," in the face of the North Korean threat and with US service members who would be among the first to respond to a crisis.
Pence departs for South Korea on Thursday, where he will meet with President Moon Jae-in and attend the opening of the games on Friday night.
Pence says he wants to help "make sure that North Korea doesn't use the powerful symbolism and the backdrop of the Winter Olympics to paper over the truth about their regime."
He hasn't ruled out the possibility of meeting with North Korean officials.
"Let me say President Trump has said he always believes in talking, but I haven't requested any meeting," Pence said before departing. "But we'll see what happens."
