S. Korean official notes possibility of N. Korea launching ICBM this month
Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo speaks to the press upon arrival at Dulles International Airport near Washington, Dec. 14. Yonhap
A South Korean presidential security official on Thursday raised the possibility of North Korea launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) this month as he arrived in Washington for a high-profile security meeting.
Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo made the remarks upon arrival here on the eve of the second meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), a South Korea-U.S. security meeting designed to discuss nuclear and strategic planning issues.
"I think there is a possibility of North Korea launching an ICBM this December," he told reporters at Dulles International Airport near Washington.
He did not elaborate on what intelligence led him to believe so.
Asked whether the North's spy satellite launch last month will be part of discussions at the NCG session, Kim said that a ballistic missile using ICBM technology is a subject of "extended deterrence" discussions between Seoul and Washington.
South Korea and the U.S. view the North's satellite launch as having utilized ICBM technology in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. Extended deterrence refers to the U.S.' commitment to using the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its ally.
"Whether that ballistic missile is long or short, if a nuclear (weapon) is loaded onto it, it becomes a nuclear threat and a nuclear attack against us," he said.
"That said, it is extended deterrence that we explore (ways) to forestall a North Korean nuclear attack in advance, and firmly face down a nuclear attack immediately at an early stage in the event of a North Korean miscalculation," he added.
Touching on the agenda for this week's NCG session, Kim said that a core issue will be to establish extended deterrence in a "unitary" way -- an apparent reference to South Korea leveraging its conventional military assets in pursuit of an integrated deterrence formula with the U.S.
"There have been concrete outcomes when it comes to intelligence sharing, joint planning and joint execution," Kim said, referring to the allies' nuclear deterrence efforts. "I came here to confirm them and explore the next procedures ahead."
He also said that following this week's NCG gathering, the two countries' defense authorities may take charge of working-level NCG affairs.
Asked to comment on Washington's assessment that the North is not interested in diplomacy with the U.S., Kim stressed, "It is North Korea that has rejected diplomacy."
"We have never let up on diplomacy," he said.
He added that at the moment, "deterrence" is an area that South Korea can focus on strengthening.
The NCG was established under the Washington Declaration that President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden adopted during their summit in Washington in April as part of efforts to enhance the credibility of extended deterrence.
The inaugural session was held in Seoul in July, led by Kim and U.S. National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and NSC Coordinator for Defense Policy and Arms Control Cara Abercrombie. (Yonhap)
(责任编辑:资讯)
- 多措并举优治理 绘就幸福新图景
- Australia trying to focus only on football for Palestine game
- Best Sony earbuds deal: The Sony WF
- 五届清马回顾|跑在青山绿水,沉醉清远美好
- 18 Places for Epic Outdoor Adventure Across Colorado
- Game Plan
- 10 Tips for Good Smartphone Photography
- 10 Tips for Good Smartphone Photography
- 提高专职兼职教师教学水平 规范教学专题课教学准入制
- [Exclusive] Samsung unsure of Suga's future as brand ambassador: source
- Best headphones deal: JBL Tune 510BT headphones on sale for $24.95
- Samsung Galaxy S7 deal: Save up to $150 at Best Buy
- Samsung Galaxy S7 deal: Save up to $150 at Best Buy
-
广州市白云区供销联社携手6所院校15支队伍,加力提速推进“百千万工程”
广州市白云区供销联社携手6所院校15支队伍,加力提速推进“百千万工程”_南方+_南方plus今年以来,广州市白云区供销联社与6所院校15支突击队结对,依托下属区级助农服务综合平台和镇村级助农服务中心, ...[详细] -
Exciting Adventures in West Virginia
The appeal of West Virginia extends far beyond its storied country roads, top-notch ski resorts, and ...[详细] -
8 Memorable Museums in Los Angeles
Ever since it was settled by Indigenous Californian tribes like the Chumash and Tongva thousands of ...[详细] -
NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 2
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword ...[详细] -
How much for Oasis tickets? Fans joke about splurging on reunion shows
Oasis, one of the biggest bands ever, broke up for 15 years because of a longtime feud between broth ...[详细] -
S. Korea designates Aug. 13 on lunar calendar as Separated Families Day
North Koreans wave to their family members from the South as they depart from a hotel at Mount Geumg ...[详细] -
Stephen King calls on Elon Musk to change 'X' back to Twitter
Stephen King is once again publicly calling out Elon Musk and how he's running X, the platform forme ...[详细] -
...[详细]
-
PS5 Pro: It looks like a sketch of the design just leaked
After a few quiet months, rumors about Sony's alleged upcoming "PS5 Pro" console are flooding the in ...[详细] -
Stephen King calls on Elon Musk to change 'X' back to Twitter
Stephen King is once again publicly calling out Elon Musk and how he's running X, the platform forme ...[详细]
- 厚植精神文明沃土 培树司法文明新风
- Peru accused of xenophobia
- Daughter of North Korean dictator seen wearing $1,900 Dior jacket
- Exciting Adventures in West Virginia
- Eng name ODI, T20I squads for Aus series
- Is NK's recent nuclear warhead display prelude to nuclear test?
- A Dozen Accessible Fall Hikes to Delight and Inspire