South Korea's foreign minister was to visit a U.S. air base in the country Tuesday as part of efforts to demonstrate the strong alliance between Seoul and Washington, the foreign ministry said.

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will visit Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, later in the day to encourage U.S. and Korean servicemen at the start of the new year, it said.

Yun plans to meet with key commanders from South Korea and the U.S. and take a look at major military facilities, the ministry said.

The foreign minister will be accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert and Curtis Scaparrotti, the commander of United States Forces Korea (USFK).

Osan Air Base is one of two bases being used by the U.S. Air Force. South Korea's Air Force Operations Command is also housed there.

About 28,500 U.S. soldiers are stationed in South Korea to help deter North Korean aggression. The rival Koreas remain technically in a state of war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. (Yonhap)