US deputy defense secretary to visit Seoul next week

US Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter will visit South Korea next week to discuss the latest security situation on the Korean Peninsula and draft measures to cope with the rising threat from North Korea, Seoul's defense ministry said Friday. Carter will arrive in Seoul on Sunday to meet with ministers of foreign affairs, defense and senior presidential officials newly appointed by President Park Geun-hye during his two-day trip, the ministry said. "His visit is aimed at meeting with foreign affairs and security officials of the Park Geun-hye administration to discuss the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and prepare related measures," the ministry said in a statement. Carter is expected to exchange opinions with Seoul officials about deterrence measures against North Korea's missile and nuclear threats and the transition of wartime operational control to Seoul, which is scheduled for December 2015. Park, who took office in late February, plans to visit Washington for meetings with US President Barack Obama in early May on her first overseas trip as president, underlining the importance of this alliance.