Pence will meet with Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo earlier in the day during his first trip to the country.
(AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, Pool).
While Defense Secretary Jim Mattis denounced North Korea's weapons test as he began a Mideast tour, Vice President Mike Pence offered support to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo amid a trip dominated by concerns about the rogue state's nuclear intentions.
Vice President Mike Pence has reaffirmed the importance what he says is the strategic partnership between the United States and the world's most populous Muslim nation Indonesia.
The announcement followed an inaugural meeting Tuesday of the U.S. -Japan Economic Dialogue in Tokyo chaired by visiting U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso. The divisive campaign undermined the image of Indonesia overseas as a generally tolerant Muslim nation.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is making a pitch for President Donald Trump's economic policies, telling U.S. and Japanese business leaders that a tax overhaul and cut in regulations will help business on both sides of the Pacific.
From the wind-swept deck of a massive aircraft carrier, Vice-President Mike Pence on Wednesday warned North Korea not to test the resolve of the US military, promising it would make an "overwhelming and effective" response to any use of conventional or nuclear weapons.
At the outset of their meeting, Pence reiterated to Abe his statement in South Korea that the United States has run out of patience with Pyongyang's moves.
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"In your nation as in mine, religion unifies, it doesn't divide", he added.
But Pence foreshadowed some reworking of the commercial and economic relationship saying that US exporters should face a level playing field.
A Japanese official says a difference in approach remains with the USA despite an agreement on a framework for new bilateral economic talks.
Trump assailed the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal during his 2016 campaign and announced shortly after his inauguration that the USA would withdraw from the Pacific Rim-based TPP, which now includes 11 countries from Chile to New Zealand.
The Trump administration has signalled a forceful US stance on North Korea's recent actions, dispatching Pence to the Demilitarized Zone dividing North and South Korea on Monday in a show of American resolve.
Over the past six months, Indonesia has wrestled with mining giant Freeport McMoRan, demanding the company divest 51 percent of its shares in its Papua-based gold and copper mine, and has demanded that Google Inc. settle unpaid taxes and fines of more than $400 million.
Trump's company, the Trump Organization, is active in Indonesia with plans to manage luxury resorts being built near the capital Jakarta and on the tourist island of Bali.
The Pences removed their shoes at the entrance and his wife, Karen, and two daughters covered their heads with scarves.
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