Page 11 - Aruba Today
P. 11
WORLD NEWS A11
Tuesday 3 November 2015
US, South Korea express concern at North Korean threats
ROBERT BURNS “In the face of increasing U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, right, and South Korean Defense Minister Han Min Koo look
AP National Security Writer threats, especially in the towards North Korea at an observation post near the border village of Panmunjom, which has
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) form of nuclear and mis- separated the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, South Korea.
— The U.S. and South Ko- sile threats from North Ko-
rea expressed “grave con- rea, we also agreed that (Korea Pool Photo via AP)
cern” Monday over North the alliance needs to work
Korea’s stated plan to con- in various ways to coop-
duct a missile or nuclear erate and to rise against
test, but they announced and respond against these
no specific new steps to- threats,” the South Korean
ward giving South Korea defense minister, Han, said
control of its own forces in at the outset of the annual
the event of a North Ko- security consultations.
rean attack. U.S. Defense Carter said the alliance
Secretary Ash Carter said “has never been stron-
the two countries agreed ger,” and he called the
that transfer of wartime American commitment to
control would happen South Korea “iron-clad.”
after the South develops Afterward he flew to Kuala
a stronger capability to Lumpur, Malaysia, for three
counter the North’s artillery days of talks with Malaysian
force, among other steps. and other Southeast Asian
No timeline or further de- defense officials. Also par-
tails were made public and ticipating in the Seoul talks
other officials said specifics were the new chairman of
would be kept secret. the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Carter called North Korea Marine Gen. Joseph Dun-
an “up-close, dangerous ford, and the commander
and continuing threat.” of U.S. Pacific Command,
Carter appeared at a Adm. Harry Harris. Dun-
news conference with his ford also was planning to
South Korean counterpart, visit the heavily guarded
Han Min-koo, who said his buffer zone separating
country would not tolerate North and South Korea.
further military provoca- Harris was scheduled to
tions by the North. In a joint fly to Beijing for his first visit
written statement issued af- to China as commander of
ter closed-door meetings, Pacific forces. The issue of
they condemned North returning wartime control
Korea’s recently expressed of South Korean forces is
intent to conduct a long- highly sensitive. The South
range missile launch or Koreans want it as a mat-
nuclear test. Previous mis- ter of national pride, but
sile and nuclear tests have some fear it will change the
partly explained South Ko- U.S.-South Korean military
rea’s desire to prolong the and political relationship in
period of U.S. wartime con- ways that could leave the
trol of South Korean forces. South more vulnerable to
In the statement, Carter the North. The South Kore-
and Han said further nu- ans have had peacetime
clear or missile tests by the control of their forces since
North give them “grave 1994. The U.S. assumed full
concern, and they called control of South Korean
on Pyongyang to “cease forces during the 1950-53
all activities related to its Korean War and has kept
nuclear programs imme- a sizeable U.S. troop pres-
diately,” including opera- ence here ever since to re-
tion of a nuclear reactor at build South Korean forces,
Yongbyon, and to “aban- to demonstrate U.S. resolve
don all nuclear weapons” and to deter another North
it already has built. Korean invasion. q
