U.S. defense chief Mark Esper says N. Korea seeks legitimacy with nuclear weapons

에스퍼 "북, 무기 증강으로 정당성 구축 추구…높은 대비태세"

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper says North Korea is seeking legitimacy by developing its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.
He added that the U.S. forces are maintaining a high state of military readiness to counter any provocations.
Park Se-young has more.
In a written statement to the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, …U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said North Korea "seeks to build legitimacy through the development of a variety of nuclear, conventional, and unconventional weapons, and by growing its ballistic missile capabilities."
And due to the continued threat posed by Pyeongyang, …U.S. forces in South Korea remain on a high state of readiness alongside their South Korean counterparts.
Esper added that while the U.S. supports diplomatic efforts to bring lasting peace to the Korean Peninsula, …the forces are prepared to "fight and win tonight, if required."
Mark Milley, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, also alluded to North Korea's continued threat in his statement to the committee, …and stressed the need to have a force posture to deter and defend against the threats.
He added the National Defense Strategy prioritizes support for the long-term competition between China and Russia, …followed by efforts to counter Iran and North Korea.
At a seminar in Washington on Wednesday, …the U.S. Deputy Special Representative for North Korea Alex Wong said the U.S. will continue its denuclearization negotiations with North Korea when it's ready to talk.
He said the talks, …which have been stalled since the no-deal summit in Hanoi last February, ...will be set in motion when Pyeongyang is "ready to seize the opportunities that we have before us."
Park Se-young, Arirang News.

#U.S. #defense #MarkEsper

[masterofmashup]

Wow, he is so intelligent. No one has even thought of that.

[DisasterxUs]

"Do as I say, not as I do" - US government