SEOUL — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) along the North Korean border on Monday as part of his trip to South Korea, the South Korean Defence Ministry said. His visit comes ahead of talks aimed at reshaping the role of US troops stationed in the country.
Hegseth arrived at the heavily fortified DMZ via a US army helicopter and met with South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back. “I believe it has symbolic and declarative significance itself, demonstrating the strength of the South Korea-US alliance and the combined defence posture,” Ahn said.
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The two defense chiefs are scheduled to hold the annual Security Consultative Meeting on Tuesday, the highest-level forum to discuss the military alliance and South Korea’s preparedness against nuclear-armed North Korea. Topics include combined defense readiness, cyber and missile defense, and adapting to the changing security environment.
Washington is considering giving its 28,500 troops in South Korea a more flexible role, potentially allowing them to operate beyond the Korean Peninsula to counter broader threats, including those posed by China in the South China Sea and around Taiwan. South Korea, which has 450,000 troops, has resisted shifting US troop roles but continues strengthening its own defense capabilities.
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Hegseth also visited Panmunjom, the truce village on the DMZ, alongside Minister Ahn. South Korea plans its largest defense budget increase in years in 2026, partly in response to US requests for allies to contribute more to the American military presence. Both nations’ top military officials emphasized cooperation to maintain Indo-Pacific security and deter potential threats amid North Korea’s advancing missile and conventional capabilities.