SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised South Korea’s plans to raise its military spending, saying Tuesday that the Asian ally will take a larger role in defending itself from North Korean aggressions as the allies must brace for “regional contingencies.”

The North Korean leader has previously shown little interest in renewed diplomacy with President Donald Trump, who met with him three times during his first term.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth praises South Korea's plan to boost defense spending as the allies look to strengthen deterrence against North Korea.

The Itaewon district in South Korea's capital is known to revelers as a place of fun, freedom and openness. But its narrow, steep streets and constrained access points proved a lethal mix for Halloween partygoers who became trapped in a crowd crush that left more than 150 people dead.

North Korea fires a ballistic missile towards eastern waters, escalating tensions after U.S.-South Korea security talks.

SEOUL: South Korea's defence minister thinks building a nuclear-powered submarine at home would be "reasonable", the department told AFP on Thursday (Nov 6), a week after United States President Donald Trump said it would be made in the US.

South Korea's spy agency thinks there is a high possibility that North Korea and the United States will hold a summit, suggesting that Pyongyang may pursue a meeting after March, a lawmaker said.

The move would not only strengthen deterrence but also reduce the risk of open conflict in Northeast Asia, analysts say.