Pence, an evangelical Christian, has sought to use his trip to soften some of the harsher edges of rhetoric about the Muslim world used by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has frequently railed against "radical Islamic terrorism".
The US aircraft carrier strike group, composed of the Carl Vinson with guided-missile destroyers and other vessels, is understood to be around the East China Sea and heading north toward waters near the Korean Peninsula.
The United States is not seeking to negotiate with North Korea and it is not in direct talks "at this time" with the rogue Asian nation, Vice President Mike Pence told CNN and the Washington Post Wednesday.
During a joint news conference on April 18 after his meeting with Aso, Pence also indicated that in the future the United States might "commence formal negotiations for a free-trade agreement" with Japan.
But Pence foreshadowed some reworking of commercial and economic ties, saying that the US seeks a free and fair relationship that helps job creation and economic growth for both sides. They say it fails to take into account the complex patterns of global trade, pointing out that the US has run big deficits during periods of strong economic growth.
He held talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about Korean Peninsula tensions.
Melania Trump Hosts White House Easter Egg Roll Wearing Pink Herve Pierre
It's one of the White House's biggest events, with kids in mind, as families attend the 139th White House Easter Egg Roll. There was, however, some speculation about whether the Trumps would be able to pull off a successful "egg-stravaganza".
Park Chan-ki, an official at the Trade Ministry, said the U.S. hasn't made any official request to start talks about reforming the U.S. -Korea trade agreement. "We have to be honest about where our trade relationship is falling short", said Pence, adding the Trump administration would work with businesses on reforms.
"We are with you 100 per cent", Mr Pence declared, adding that the USA always seeks peace.
"But at the same time", the prime minister said, "dialogue for the sake of dialogue is valueless and it is necessary for us to exercise pressure North Korea so that it comes forward and engages in this serious dialogue".
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has arrived in Japan for the second stop of a 10-day Asia tour. The two agreed to develop the deal "in a mutually beneficial way", according to South Korea. The term "reckless" is one the North Koreans have used to describe ongoing large-scale US and South Korean military exercises, which the North calls a dress rehearsal for an invasion.
Pence told business leaders before leaving Seoul that the Trump administration is reviewing all trade agreements as part of its "America First" policy.
White House officials say the meetings in Tokyo are meant to forge a framework for future discussions after the USA withdrew from a Pacific Rim trade pact.
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