Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back visited a border observation post. Photo: AP PHOTO

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has praised South Korea's plans to raise its military spending, saying the Asian ally will take a larger role in defending itself from North Korean aggressions as the allies must brace for regional contingencies.

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Modernising the decades-long alliance between the US and South Korea is a key issue between the US and South Korea, as the US apparently wants South Korea to increase its conventional defence capabilities so Washington can foc

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