U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday the U.S. alliances with South Korea and Japan are the "anchor" of American presence in the Asia-Pacific region and those alliances have never been better.
Obama made the remark during a visit to the Department of Defense to get a briefing from Pentagon officials on the U.S.-led campaign of airstrikes aimed at defeating the Islamic State militant group.
"I got a chance to get a briefing from Admiral Locklear of the Pacific Command about the ongoing both challenges and opportunities in the Pacific. It's been noted that our alliances in that area have never been stronger," he said.
"The anchor of our presence there are treaty and alliances with key countries like South Korea and Japan ... Those alliances have never been in better shape." (Yonhap)