Japan defense chief, U.S. Indo-Pacific commander share security concerns

HONOLULU - Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, on Monday agreed that the regional security environment has grown more severe and discussed further enhancing cooperation between their countries' forces.

Koizumi visited the command's headquarters in Hawaii on the first day of his weeklong U.S. trip aimed at strengthening the bilateral alliance amid mounting security challenges from China and North Korea.