The head of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Avril Haines, visited four countries, including Japan, but it was later revealed that she did not stop in South Korea.
According to NHK on the 24th, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence announced that Director General Haines visited Hawaii, Japan, Thailand, India, and France on the 20th (local time).
Director General Haines met with senior intelligence officials and diplomats in Japan to strengthen bilateral cooperation. NHK noted that this appears to be the first visit by a U.S. Cabinet official to Japan since the start of the Trump administration.
This week, Minister of National Defense Pete Haggress will visit Hawaii, the Philippines, and Japan. Minister Haggress was initially considering a visit to South Korea, but it is reported that he canceled it at the last minute.
Minister Haggress is expected to visit Iwo To (Iwo Jima), a battleground during the Pacific War, alongside Japan's Minister of Defense Yasukazu Nakata and attend a joint memorial service, as well as hold U.S.-Japan defense ministerial talks.