South Korea's new Defense Minister Song Young-moo has visited the truce village of Panmunjeom and a front-line Army unit.

The ministry said that Song visited the Joint Security Area (JSA) at Panmunjeom and a frontline unit in the 1st Infantry Division in the heavily armed Korean Demilitarized Zone on Saturday, a day after he took office.

Song encouraged soldiers from South Korea and the United States-led United Nations Command protecting the border at the JSA, asking them to stably manage the armistice based on the solid South Korea-U.S. alliance.

The minister also called for overwhelming and strong military readiness, stressing the importance of a strong defense.

When Song appeared on the southern side of Panmunjom, a North Korean soldier guarding the north side reportedly took his photo.