US threatens North Korea with nuclear deterrent to protect ‘ironclad’ allies South Korea, Japan
- The United States will use ‘the full range’ of its capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its allies, said Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman
- She described Washington’s commitment to the security of South Korea and Japan as ‘ironclad’, ahead of a three-way meeting with counterparts in Tokyo
Sherman said North Korea’s repeated firings of ballistic missiles and artillery in recent weeks were provocative military actions. North Korea has described them as practice runs for the use of tactical nuclear weapons.
“This is deeply irresponsible, dangerous, and destabilising,” Sherman said in talks in Tokyo on Tuesday with South Korea’s first vice-minister for foreign affairs Cho Hyungdong. The two officials met ahead of a three-way meeting with their Japanese counterpart on Wednesday.
Sherman said North Korea needs to understand that the US commitment to the security of South Korea and Japan is “ironclad”.
“And we will use the full range of US defence capabilities to defend our allies, including nuclear, conventional and missile defence capabilities,” she said.
US, China tempers flare over blitz of North Korean missile launches
Cho, during his talks with Sherman, raised concern that a new North Korean nuclear weapons policy adopted in September increases the possibility of its arbitrary use of nuclear weapons.
“This is creating serious tension on the Korean peninsula,” Cho said.
Japanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada recently said North Korea is believed to have achieved a miniaturisation of nuclear warheads while significantly advancing its missile capabilities by diversifying its launch technologies, making interceptions more difficult.
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Kim Jong-un oversees missile launch, one of several recent tests by North Korea
Japanese officials have also warned of a possible nuclear test by North Korea in the near future.
The Japanese and South Korean officials met together later on Tuesday and discussed ways to improve their countries’ ties, which were badly strained over disagreements stemming from Japanese wartime actions, including abuse of Korean forced labourers and coercing girls and young women to work in brothels for Japanese soldiers.
