The defense ministers of South Korea and the United States visited the Joint Security Area in the heavily fortified demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, marking the first such trip in about eight years.

Minister Ahn Gyu-Back and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth toured Observation Post Ouellette on Monday — just 25 meters from the Military Demarcation Line — where they were briefed on operational readiness.

Both officials later visited the conference buildings inside the truce village of Panmunjeom, reaffirming their commitment to a strong combined defense posture, according to Seoul’s defense ministry.

Hegseth arrived earlier in the day to attend the 57th Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul, his first visit since taking office in January.

The meeting, set for Tuesday at the defense ministry in Seoul's Yongsan District, will address matters including nuclear-powered submarine cooperation, the transfer of wartime operational control and defense budget increases.

Hegseth is also scheduled to visit Camp Humphreys, the central United States Forces Korea base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, following the meeting.