Hagel meets South Korean, Lithuanian senior officials at Pentagon

US Secretary of Defense met separately on Friday at the Pentagon, the Republic of Korea National Security Advisor Kim Jang Soo and Lithuania's Minister of National Defense Juozas Olekas. Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a statement that Hagel emphasized during his meeting with the Korean official the importance of the US-South Korean alliance, especially in the context of the President Barack Obama's initiative to rebalance to the Asia-Pacific. The statement added that they discussed the importance of maintaining a robust combined defense of the Korean Peninsula as a strong deterrent against provocations from North Korea. The secretary noted that the Republic of Korea continues to be a linchpin for peace and stability in northeast Asia, the statement affirmed. Meanwhile, Little said in a separate statement during his meeting with Lithuania's Minister of National Defense, that Hagel praised Lithuania for its leadership role in Afghanistan. Lithuania led a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghor province for eight years, continues to play an important role in International Security Assistance Force operations, and provides a key port along the Northern Distribution Network which facilitates the transport of materiel to coalition troops in Afghanistan, it affirmed. Hagel and Olekas reiterated their commitment to supporting security and stability in Afghanistan post-2014. Hagel reiterated the United States security commitment to our European allies and partners, affirming that the Defense Department will continue to work with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the US European Command to leverage training and exercises that will enhance the interoperability we've achieved over the last decade, the statement affirmed