Defense secretary visiting Colorado military sites

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has arrived in Colorado Springs to visit military installations.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command says Hagel arrived at Peterson Air Force Base Thursday afternoon.

He’s visiting the headquarters of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command at Peterson on Thursday. On Friday, he plans to visit the underground complex at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station and meet with soldiers at Fort Carson.

NORAD says Hagel will discuss homeland defense, integrated air and missile defense, military relations between the U.S. and Mexico and other topics with Gen. Charles Jacoby Jr., commander of both NORAD and Northern Command.

NORAD is a joint U.S.-Canada command responsible for defending the skies over both nations and monitoring sea approaches. Northern Command defends the U.S. mainland and supports civil authorities in emergencies.