Pence looks to refocus U.S. allies on N. Korea threat
message in any potential interaction would include the same point he has been TOKYO — Vice President Mike making publicly: that the Pence is pouring cold water North must renounce its on the warming ties between nuclear weapon and misNorth and South Korea just sile programs. as the two still-warring counIn Washington, Defense tries are joining up to comSecretary Jim Mattis told pete together in the Winter reporters Wednesday that Olympics. Pence is “quite capable of
Making his way to Pyeong- making the call” on whether chang to lead the U.S. delegato meet with North Korean tion to Friday’s opening cere- officials at the Olympics. monies, Pence has embarked Asked if war with North on a set of symbolic visits Korea is closer than when designed to draw attention Trump took office a year to the North’s terrible human ington strongly criticizes the ago, Mattis said U.S. policy rights record and nuclear North and emphasizes the is “firmly in the diplomatic aggression. With determined need to crank up the pres- lane,” as shown by agreerhetoric — and the promise of sure campaign. ment among world powmore “aggressive” economic U.S. officials declined to ers to increase sanctions. sanctions against the North offer details on the expected He added that the policy is — Pence is looking to refo- new sanctions beyond backed by “viable military cus American allies on the Pence’s comments, citing options.”
North Korean threat. concerns that any additional Pence began his trip with
“We will not allow North information could be used by a visit to Alaska, where he Korea to hide behind the those trying to skirt the new received a briefing on the Olympic banner the reality measures. They are expected U.S. missile defense system that they enslave their peo- to be implemented before with U.S. Northern Comple and threaten the wider the conclusion of the games. mand and highlighted the region,” Pence said WednesNorth Korea already is facupcoming deployment of day after meetings with Japing unprecedented sanctions an additional 20 groundanese Prime Minister Shinzo after three U.N. Security Coun- bas e d interceptors that Abe in Tokyo. cil restrictions in the past year will be ready to respond to
Pence arrives in Seoul on that have slashed the pariah a North Korean launch. In Thursday for meetings with nation’s export revenue and Japan, Pence watched JapPresident Moon Jae-in just as capped fuel imports. Unianese troops demonstrate South Korea seizes on the laterally, the U.S. has also the simulated deployment games for a diplomatic opentargeted North Korean ship- of Japan’s surface-to-air mising with the North, including ping companies and Chinese sile defense system, which the first visit of North Korea’s trading networks. A potential would attempt to intercept ruling family since the end escalation of sanctions could a North Korean missile. He of the 1950-53 Korean War. be the U.S. blacklisting Chialso participated in a briefAides say the vice president nese banks accused of proing at Japan’s Ministry of is advancing a counter mesviding North Korea access Defense on the threat. sage, using the games as an to the international financial Abe echoed Pence’s comopportunity for the South system and facilitating sancments through a translaand the broader international tions evasion. tor, urging countries “not community to exert what Administration officials to be lured by the charm President Donald Trump has said they had long expected offensive of North Korea.” termed “maximum pressure” the North would seek to use Abe added that the U.S. and against the North. the Olympics, taking place Japan are “100 percent on the
Before departing for just 50 miles from the heavisame page” on North Korean Korea, Pence announced ly-mined demilitarized zone, policy. The U.S., Japan, and that the U.S. would unveil in as an opportunity to put a South Korea are set to hold coming days “the toughest softer face on the regime, trilateral talks later this week and most aggressive round and painted Pence’s visit as In South Korea, Pence will of economic sanctions on a counterbalance to those meet Friday morning with North Korea ever.” efforts. At the same time, North Korean defectors as he
Pence’s strenuous efforts to the vice president has delib- pays respects at the Cheonan highlight the threat from the erately left the door open Memorial in Seoul, which North and its human rights to a possible encounter honors the 46 South Korean record present a dilemma with North Korean officials sailors killed in a 2010 torfor Moon. The South Korean expected to be in attendance. pedo attack attributed to leader has long advocated On Wednesday, the North the North. engagement with Pyong- announced that Kim Yo Jong, Pence’s personal guest yang and sees the Olympics the sister of dictator Kim at the games will be Fred as an opportunity to quell Jong-un, would attend the Warmbier, the father of Otto tensions that have escalated games, joining the country’s Warmbier, an American who over its nuclear program. He nominal head of state, Kim died last year days after his has limited room to maneu- Yong Nam. release from captivity in ver as his guest from Wash- Pence pledged that his North Korea.