U.S. defense chief emphasizes S. Korea-U.S. alliance against N. Korean threats

美국방장관 "한•미 동맹 강화 등 미국 안보공약은 불변"
And before the defense ministers' meeting today... the Pentagon chief met with South Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Thursday... as he arrived in Seoul.
The two sides emphasized the strong alliance between the two nations,... in the face of continued military provocations by North Korea.

"The U.S. defense secretary's unprecedented visit holds a symbolic meaning and shows the importance of the Seoul-Washington alliance."

"We have to regret the reality of the threat that your country and my country faces. And we intend to be shoulder to shoulder with you as we face this together."

The U.S. defense chief went on to say... that the Trump administration will deal with North Korea's nuclear threats as a top security priority.
Mattis also hinted that reaffirming the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system to the Korean peninsula was an important reason for his decision to visit Seoul in a timely manner.
Also meeting with National Security Office Chief Kim Kwan-jin, Mattis emphasized the importance of pushing through the THAAD deployment as planned.

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