United States, South Korea warn Pyongyang against use of nukes
North Korea has launched many missiles over the past two days
The U.S. and South Korea jointly warned North Korea on Thursday that use of any kind of nuclear weapon against Seoul or other regional allies would result in the end of Kim Jong-un’s regime, as Pyongyang continued to rattle the peninsula with escalating missile tests.
North Korea has launched more than two dozen missiles over the past two days in response to U.S.South Korean military exercises that began Monday. The launches have sent South Koreans scrambling for shelter and further frayed the nerves of a population already mourning the loss of more than 150 people at a horrific Halloween crowd crush.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup, after meeting Thursday at the Pentagon, released a joint statement saying they “strongly condemned” North Korea’s escalating military flexing, including ballistic missile test launches, multiple rocket launches and coastal artillery.
Any use of nuclear weapons, including lower-yield tactical nuclear devices against Seoul or other regional allies such as Japan, would “result in the end of the Kim Jongun regime by the overwhelming and decisive response of the alliance,” Lee said at a joint news conference with Austin.
The U.S. and South Korea “will work on response options towards all possible nuclear use scenarios” by North Korea, Lee said.
Austin said North Korea’s increased aggression would not result in more U.S. troops or assets, such as an additional aircraft carrier, being permanently relocated to the region but that Kim would see a U.S. military presence rogreater tating there.
In September, the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan visited Korea for the first time in five years, Austin said.
Kim will “see assets move in and out,” Austin said.
In its launches Thursday, North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, drawing swift condemnation from the White House, which accused Pyongyang of “destabilizing the security situation in the region.”
The U.S. and South Korea announced the “Vigilant Storm” military exercise, which was scheduled to run through Friday, would be extended indefinitely.
The launches have sent South Koreans scrambling for shelter and further frayed the nerves of a population already mourning the loss of more than 150 people at a horrific Halloween crowd crush