00:00U.S. Defense Secretary Peter Hexhev has arrived in South Korea for talks with the Defense Minister
00:05Ahn-Gyu Bak, aimed at strengthening the military alliance between the two nations.
00:10His visit includes a trip to the Joint Security Area inside the Demilitarized Zone,
00:15the first by both countries' defense chiefs since October 2017.
00:20On Tuesday, Hexhev and Ahn will hold their annual security consultative meeting to discuss
00:25coordination on North Korea and ways to reinforce their combined defense posture.
00:31Washington is also weighing a more flexible role for the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea,
00:39potentially allowing operations beyond the peninsula amid growing concerns over China's
00:44activities in the South China Sea and around Taiwan. Hexhev is also expected to visit the
00:49Panmujon Truce Village along the demilitarized zone with Ahn. The visit comes as U.S.
00:55President Donald Trump and South Korean leader Lee Jae-myung discussed ways to improve ties
01:00with Pyongyang, an idea North Korea has since dismissed.
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