US defence secretary James Mattis is in South Korea on the first foreign trip by a senior official in the Trump administration.
Mr Mattis is expected to use the visit to reassure Seoul of continuing US commitment to security deals in the face of threats from North Korea.
While campaigning, Donald Trump accused South Korea and Japan of not paying enough for US military support.
He also suggested they could be allowed to arm themselves with nuclear weapons.
Both Japan and South Korea rejected this idea.
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On the campaign trail, Mr Trump also said he was willing to talk to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, contradicting longstanding US, South Korean and Japanese policy.
Image from North Korean TV of rocket launch on 7 February 2016Image copyrightREUTERS
North Korea has been making seemingly rapid progress in its nuclear and missile programmes
Mr Mattis will be in South Korea until Friday, and will hold talks with his Korean counterpart, Han Min-koo, among other officials.
The Pentagon said the visit would "underscore the commitment of the United States to our enduring alliances with Japan and the Republic of Korea, and further strengthen US-Japan-Republic of Korea security cooperation".
Mr Mattis told reporters he would discuss the planned deployment of a US missile defence system in South Korea, and North Korea's nuclear programme.
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