Archive · 23 Jan 2026
US Defense Official Colby to Visit South Korea and Japan
A big boss from the U.S. military, Elbridge Colby, is going to visit South Korea and Japan next week.
He will talk to officials about how the two countries can work together better.
They will discuss how much South Korea should pay for their defense and how to make their military stronger.
South Korea has a lot of U.S. troops there to help protect against North Korea.
They also want to build their own special submarines, and the U.S. president supports this idea.
South Korea is also spending more money on their military this year.
U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby will visit South Korea and Japan next week.
His talks will focus on South Korea's proposed increase in defense spending and modernization of the military alliance.
The U.S. is pushing for allies to share more of the defense cost and realigning its military footprint.
South Korea hosts about 28,500 U.S. troops and has raised its defense budget by 7.5% for this year.
South Korea is pursuing the construction of its own nuclear-powered submarines, a plan backed by President Trump.
- Who
- Elbridge Colby, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
- What
- Visit to South Korea and Japan to discuss military alliance issues
- When
- Next week (Sunday to Tuesday)
- Where
- South Korea and Japan
- Why
- To discuss military alliance issues, including defense spending and modernization
- Official
- Elbridge Colby
- Position
- U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
- Visit Duration
- Sunday to Tuesday
- Countries Visited
- South Korea, Japan
- US Troops in South Korea
- 28,500
- South Korea's Defense Budget Increase
- 7.5%
- South Korea's Defense Plan
- Nuclear-powered submarines