The US Defense Secretary is in Seoul, where Washington is trying to reassure its Asian ally on nuclear commitments amid a growing threat from North Korea.
The United States is prepared to respond to North Korean aggression with a variety of weapons, including nuclear weapons. This was said by the head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, in a briefing after a meeting with the head of the Ministry of Defense of South Korea, Lee Jong Sop, Reuters reports.
It noted that the US Defense Secretary is now visiting Seoul, where Washington is trying to reassure its key Asian ally on nuclear commitments amid a growing threat from North Korea.
“The United States is firmly committed to its expanded deterrence commitment, which includes the full range of defense capabilities, including conventional, nuclear and missile defenses,” Austin said.
Last year, nuclear-armed North Korea is known to have fired an unprecedented number of missiles, including ICBMs capable of reaching the US mainland, as part of an exercise. US and South Korean officials have warned that Pyongyang may be preparing for its first nuclear test since 2017.
There are calls from some politicians in South Korea to bring back US tactical nuclear weapons or South Korea’s nuclear program. However, Seoul officials dismissed the possibility.
Recall that in 2022, the DPRK announced its withdrawal from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Kim Jong-un has also reportedly called for the mass production of nuclear weapons.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.