YONHAP - NO ACCESS SOUTH KOREA

Panmunjom - 1 November 2015

1. South Korean Defence Minister Han Min-koo and United States Defence Secretary Ash Carter arriving at observation post in de-mlitarised zone (DMZ)

2. Han and Carter

3. Close of Carter

4. Various of Carter looking around the observation post

5. Wide of North Korean area

6. North Korean village

7. South Korean and North Korean soldiers at Joint Security Area (JSA)

8. Panmungok, northern side of Panmunjom

9. Various of Carter at Military Demarcation Line (MDL)

10. North Korean soldiers

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Ash Carter, US Defence Secretary:

"But we continue, not only the United States, and not only the United States and South Korea, but also China and Japan and Russia, the so-called six-party talks, to call for the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. So that remains our policy, we remain committed to achieving that negotiated outcome with North Korea."

12. Panmungok, northern side of Panmunjom

13. SOUNDBITE(English) Ash Carter, US Defence Secretary:

"And the ever-present danger is the reason why we speak of the ability to 'Fight Tonight,' that's the slogan up here, no one ever wants to have to do that. But deterrence is guaranteed through strength, and that's what the alliance is all about."

14. Various of Carter inside Peace House

15. North Korean soldiers walking down stairs

16. Carter looking around Joint Security Area (JSA)

US Secretary of Defence Ash Carter said on Sunday that it was important to continue trying to resolve the issues surrounding North Korea's nuclear programme through six-party talks.

He was speaking during a visit to the South Korean side of the Korean de-militarised zone.

Carter said that the US is continuously urging North Korea to refrain from provocations or any action that may heighten tension, and to follow through on the denuclearisation process demanded in the six-party talks, in order to bring peace and prosperity to the Korean peninsula.

Carter emphasised the need for a strong US-South Korea alliance, and the necessity of keeping a strong military presence in the sharply divided border areas.

Carter is visiting South Korea for three days from Saturday to Monday to take part in the security consultative meeting (SCM) on Monday with his South Korean counterpart, Han Min-koo.