U.S. Naval Exercises Off Korean Peninsula Intended as ‘Message of Reassurance’<br />But he read a short statement outlining themes he planned to address in a speech on Saturday, including the importance of "strengthening alliances," "upholding international law"<br />and "maintaining stability." "As a Pacific nation, we have enduring interests and commitments in the Asia-Pacific region," said Mr. Mattis, noting the need to help nations bolster their own security while strengthening the United States military to deter war.<br />By MICHAEL R. GORDONJUNE 2, 2017<br />SINGAPORE — United States officials said on Friday<br />that naval maneuvers this week off the Korean Peninsula were the first in two decades to involve two American aircraft carriers in those waters and were intended as a "message of reassurance" to the region.<br />The new details about the exercises, which also involved Japanese warships, were disclosed as Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrived in Singapore for a security conference during which concerns over North Korea’s nuclear<br />and missile programs are certain to be front and center.<br />Mr. Helvey said that I don’t expect this to change North Korea’s behavior,<br />The conference, an annual event organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a research center based in London, also provides<br />a venue for Mr. Mattis to meet with his counterparts from South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, Turkey and other nations.<br />American officials have generally portrayed the debate as a matter of internal South Korean politics, and Mr. Helvey insisted<br />that the United States had been forthright with South Korea.
