Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said the United States is ready to use conventional and nuclear weapons to deter and protect South Korea. Austin said this at a joint press conference in Seoul with South Korean Minister of National Defense Lee Jong Sop. broadcast was open Web site US Department of Defense.
“Our commitment to the defense of South Korea is unwavering. The United States is firmly committed to expanded deterrence, which includes the full use of US military capabilities, including conventional and nuclear weapons and missile defense capabilities,” he said.
The head of the US defense department noted that last year the DPRK carried out an “unprecedented” number of provocations. Austin acknowledged that the United States and South Korea condemned these “dangerous actions”, which he stressed would destabilize the situation in the region.
The US minister pointed out that 28,500 American soldiers are stationed in South Korea, one of the largest American military units abroad.
“This demonstrates our unwavering commitment to peacekeeping on the Korean Peninsula. Over the past year our countries have made significant progress in deepening cooperation,” said Austin.
The head of the US Department of Defense also noted that the parties have stepped up retaliatory measures and conducted exercises against “threats” from North Korea.
It was previously reported by South Korean Foreign Minister Park Chin on February 1. plans to go For a study visit to the USA.
Source: Gazeta
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