Asia/Oceania

US Defence Secretary Ash Carter warned that any attack on American allies or use of nuclear weapons by North Korea would be met with an “overwhelming” US response. He was speaking at start of talks between the top US and South Korea diplomats and defence officials on their response to the growing threat from North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes. The meeting comes weeks after the North’s most powerful nuclear test explosion to date, and days after its failed test launch of a ballistic missile. On the agenda is how to strengthen the socalled “extended deterrence” provided by US nuclear forces in