(VOVworld) – 64-year-old Rex W. Tillerson, former Chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil, was confirmed as the new Secretary of State by the US Senate on Wednesday. 

69th US Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson (Source: THX/VNA)

Serious strains have emerged with important US allies since President Trump took office.

The same day, US Defense Secretary James Mattis began a 2-day visit to South Korea. He met with Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo, paid a courtesy visit to acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn and National Security Office chief Kim Kwan-jin. The two Defense Ministers discussed deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea to counter military threats from North Korea.