New U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis (R) is greeted by Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as he arrives for his first day of work at the Pentagon outside Washington, U.S., January 21, 2017. REUTERS/Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis’s first trip will be to South Korea and Japan starting on Feb. 1 to meet his counterparts and “underscore the commitment of the United States to our enduring alliances,” a Pentagon spokesman said on Wednesday.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Mattis plans to visit Japan and South Korea, choosing two close U.S. allies for his debut trip abroad as Pentagon chief.