HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis praised Vietnam on Wednesday for supporting U.N. sanctions against North Korea and expressed hope that Washington and Hanoi can build closer defense ties despite being former enemies. "They've stepped up and aligned themselves with U.N. sanctions," he told reporters flying with him from Jakarta, Indonesia, where he held high-level talks and observed a colorful display of combat skills by Indonesian commandos. The Pentagon chief's visit comes just days before the 50th anniversary of the Tet offensive, a turning point in the American war against communist North Vietnam.