U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit South Korea, Japan, and France on what is likely to be his final diplomatic trip before the incoming Trump administration takes office later this month. The State Department announced on Friday that Blinken would begin a five-day trip to the three countries on Jan. 4, aiming to reaffirm U.S. alliances in the face of regional challenges. In South Korea, Blinken will meet with senior government officials to reaffirm the ironclad U.S.–South Korea alliance and discuss “critical cooperation” in addressing global challenges. The department stated that Blinken will focus on how the two countries “can strengthen key efforts to promote a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific” and enhance trilateral efforts with Japan….