TOKYO – (Reuters) Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will head to South Korea, on Monday, on a visit aimed at strengthening security cooperation between the two neighbors and their common ally, the United States, with the aim of confronting China’s growing regional power. The Japanese government said this is the first time in seven years that a Japanese foreign minister has visited South Korea to hold a bilateral meeting with his South Korean counterpart. She added that Iwaya will also meet with South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok. The government stated in a press statement that during the visit, Iwaya will aim to “reaffirm” the importance of relations between the two countries and the necessity of continuing policy coordination.