China and North Korea loom as top US officials head to Asia

US secretary of state Antony Blinken and defence secretary Lloyd Austin are heading to Japan and South Korea (PA)

Threats from China and North Korea will loom large over the Biden administration’s first cabinet-level trip abroad, part of a larger effort to bolster US influence and calm concerns about America’s role in Asia.

A senior administration official said the US had tried to reach out to North Korea through multiple channels since last month, but had yet to receive a response, making consultations with the reclusive country’s neighbours – Japan, South Korea and China – all the more critical.