U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Sherman says Japan, South Korea talks "constructive" despite differences

FILE PHOTO: Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman departs after speaking on the situation in Afghanistan at the State Department in Washington, DC, U.S. August 18, 2021. Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said on Wednesday she had constructive talks with her counterparts from Japan and South Korea, where they committed to maintaining an inclusive, free, peaceful, stable and open Indo-Pacific region.

Sherman met with South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong Kun and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori, but the two officials did not join Sherman in a news conference due to an unspecified "bilateral difference" unrelated to Wednesday's meeting, Sherman said.