Defense Secretary Ash Carter met with South Korea President Park Geun-hye in Seoul and reaffirmed the strength and importance of the enduring alliance between the United States and South Korea, according to a Defense Department statement issued today.

Carter is on first trip to the Asia-Pacific region as defense secretary. The meeting took place as a precursor to Park's upcoming visit to Washington, the release stated.

The leaders discussed the importance of their countries’ partnership, both in deterring North Korean threats to security and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and in helping assure continued peace and prosperity throughout the Asia-Pacific region, according to the release.

They also covered a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues relevant to the U.S.-South Korea alliance, including broadening allied security cooperation into new domains like space and cyberspace, the release said.

The U.S.-South Korea alliance continues to be a linchpin of peace and security in the region and increasingly around the world, Carter noted in the release.