US Secretary of State Blinken arrives in South Korea to attend democracy summit

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, arrives at the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Sunday, March 17, 2024. Blinken arrived to attend a session of the Summit for Democracy, a US-led multination gathering formed to boost solidarity and shared values among democratic countries, Yonhap news agency reported. - AP

SEOUL (AFP): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Sunday in South Korea on the first stop of a brief Asia tour also including the Philippines, as Washington moves to reinforce ties with two key regional allies.

Blinken landed Sunday afternoon ahead of the third Summit for Democracy on Monday, an initiative of US President Joe Biden, which Seoul is hosting this week.