U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has welcomed Japan's commitment to accelerate its military buildup and defense spending

Watch live coverage as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth holds a joint press conference with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in Tokyo.

It’s a busy time for diplomacy and deals in Asia. President Donald Trump hailed the US’s alliance with Japan and praised new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on her plans to ratchet up defense spending as the pair met in Tokyo.

The companies said the transport vehicle would launch from an offshore site and could link any two points within an hour.

For the families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents decades ago, this week is perhaps the best shot they’ve had in years of substantive progress.

The Japanese yen gained on Tuesday, rebounding from seven consecutive days of losses against the U.S. dollar, after comments from a Japanese minister and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent eased some concerns about more expansionary fiscal and monetary policy in the country.

U.S. President Donald Trump discussed trade with Japan's newly elected leader Sanae Takaichi as Trump began one of the busiest days of his Asia trip.

TRUMP TRAVELS TO JAPAN: President Donald Trump has arrived in Japan, the second stop on his three-country Asia tour. He met with Emperor Naruhito in the evening, and will have a bilateral meeting tomorrow with newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.