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North Korea faces 'overwhelming' US response if it uses nuclear arms – Mattis North Korea faces 'overwhelming' US response if it uses nuclear arms – Mattis
(about 1 hour later)
Donald Trump’s defense secretary has warned North Korea that it would face an “effective and overwhelming” response if it chose to use nuclear weapons.Donald Trump’s defense secretary has warned North Korea that it would face an “effective and overwhelming” response if it chose to use nuclear weapons.
Speaking in South Korea at the end of a two-day visit, James Mattis reassured the government in Seoul that the US would step in should its northern neighbour launch any attack. Speaking in South Korea on Friday at the end of a two-day visit, James Mattis reassured the government in Seoul that the US would step in should its northern neighbour launch any attack.
“Any attack on the United States, or our allies, will be defeated, and any use of nuclear weapons would be met with a response that would be effective and overwhelming,” Mattis said in Seoul. “Any attack on the United States, or our allies, will be defeated, and any use of nuclear weapons would be met with a response that would be effective and overwhelming,” Mattis said in Seoul before departing for Japan.
This is a breaking new story and will be updated as soon as possible. Mattis’ remarks come amid concern that North Korea could be readying to test a new ballistic missile, in what could be an early challenge for Trump’s administration.
North Korea, which regularly threatens to destroy South Korea and its main ally, the United States, conducted more than 20 missile tests last year, as well as two nuclear tests, in defiance of UN resolutions and sanctions.
The North appears to have also restarted operation of a reactor at its main Yongbyon nuclear facility that produces plutonium that can be used for its nuclear weapons programme, according to U.S. thinktank 38 North.
“North Korea continues to launch missiles, develop its nuclear weapons programme and engage in threatening rhetoric and behaviour,” Mattis said.
North Korea’s actions have prompted the US and South Korea to respond by bolstering defences, including the expected deployment of a US missile defence system, known as terminal high-altitude area defense (Thaad), in South Korea later this year.
China, however, has objected to Thaad, saying it will destabilise the regional security balance, leading to calls from some South Korean opposition leaders to delay or cancel it.
South Korean fefence minister Han Min-koo reaffirmed plans to deploy Thaad and said Mattis’ visit to Seoul – his first trip abroad as defence secretary – sent a clear message of strong US support. “Faced with a current severe security situation, secretary Mattis’s visit to Korea ... also communicates the strongest warning to North Korea,” Han said.
Once fully developed, a North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile could threaten the United States, which is about 9,000km (5,500 miles) from North Korea. ICBMs have a minimum range of about 5,500 km (3,400 miles), but some are designed to travel 10,000 km (6,200 miles) or more.
Former US officials and other experts have said the United States essentially has two options when it comes to trying to curb North Korea’s fast-expanding nuclear and missile programmes – negotiate or take military action.
Neither path offers certain success and the military option is fraught with huge dangers, especially for Japan and South Korea, US allies in close proximity to North Korea.