Anthony Kuhn is NPR's correspondent based in Seoul, South Korea, reporting on the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and the great diversity of Asia's countries and cultures. Before moving to Seoul in 2018, he traveled to the region to cover major stories including the North Korean nuclear crisis and the Fukushima earthquake and nuclear disaster.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Japan over the weekend, attempting to ease concerns that the Trump administration's "America First" policy might result in the U.S. abandoning its key ally.
President Trump's critics say his actions are creating a leadership vacuum around the world. But some political observers in China are skeptic about their country stepping into that void.