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A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 29 november 2017
Tillerson seeks to reassure Europe of US security commitment

By MATTHEW LEE “Our security relationships
AP Diplomatic Writer with Europe are ironclad,”
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sec- Tillerson said.
retary of State Rex Tillerson “Alliances are meaningless
sought Tuesday to reas- if their members are unable
sure Europe that the United or unwilling to meet their
States remains fully com- commitments,” he said,
mitted to European secu- describing NATO’s mutual
rity, particularly in combat- defense obligation as the
ing threats from Russia. “best mechanism we have
Ahead of a trip next week to deter aggression.”
to several European capi- President Donald Trump
tals, Tillerson said the U.S. was criticized for repeat-
would be the first to re- edly demanding European
spond to any attack on NATO members meet a
a European ally under pledge to spend 2 percent
NATO’s Article 5 mutual de- of their federal budgets
fense clause. His comments on defense, which only a
in a speech to the Wilson handful currently do. Trump
Center, a Washington think even suggested the U.S.
tank, were intended to dis- might be less willing to de-
pel widespread unease fend them if they did not.
that the Trump administra- Tillerson said the U.S. “will clause was invoked for the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson delivers an address at the Wilson
tion is pulling back from be the first to honor the first time ever after 9/11. He Center in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017. Tillerson seeks to
the alliance by demanding commitment we have stressed that “nations of reassure Europe of America’s commitment to the trans-Atlantic
that European members made” in the event of an Europe must accept great- relationship ahead of a trip to several European capitals next
spend more on their own attack on any ally, noting er responsible for their own week.
defenses. that the mutual defense security challenges.” q (AP Photo/Sait Serkan Gurbuz
With trip to Asia, France: North Korea launches missile,

Obama re-emerges on the global stage dashing hopes of diplomacy

By LOLITA C. BALDOR signal further progress by
ROBERT BURNS Pyongyang in developing
Associated Press a weapon of mass destruc-
WASHINGTON (AP) — North tion that could strike the
Korea abruptly ended a U.S. mainland, which Presi-
10-week pause in its weap- dent Donald Trump has
ons testing Tuesday by vowed to prevent.
launching what the Penta- Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff
gon believes was an inter- said the U.S. and South Ko-
continental ballistic missile, rean militaries were analyz-
a move that will escalate ing the launch data from
already high tensions with the missile, which it said
Washington. was fired from an area in a
Pentagon spokesman Col. city close to North Korea’s
Rob Manning said that the capital. In response, it said
missile was launched from South Korea conducted a
Sain Ni, North Korea, and “precision-strike” drill, with-
traveled about 1,000 kilo- out elaborating.
meters (about 620 miles) South Korea’s presidential
before landing in the Sea office said it was holding a
of Japan. Japan said it National Security Council
may have landed within meeting at 6 a.m. Wednes-
370 nautical kilometers (200 day local time to discuss
nautical miles) of its coast. the launch.
The launch is North Korea’s A week ago, the Trump ad-
In this Nov. 1, 2017 photo, former President Barack Obama addresses the crowd as the last
speaker at final session of the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago. Obama is re-emerging on first since it fired an interme- ministration declared North
the global stage with a three-country tour that includes meetings with the leaders of China and diate range missile over Ja- Korea a state sponsor of
India. Obama’s office says he arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday to speak at a business summit. pan on Sept. 15, and it ap- terrorism, further straining
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) peared to shatter chances ties between governments
day to speak at a business meeting for young people that the hiatus could lead that are still technically at
By JOSH LEDERMAN conference. hosted by his foundation. to renewed diplomacy war. Washington also im-
Associated Press He’ll also address an edu- Obama’s trip finishes in over the reclusive coun- posed new sanctions on
WASHINGTON (AP) — cation conference in Bei- Paris, where he’ll speak at try’s nuclear program. U.S. North Korean shipping firms
Former President Barack jing before meeting Chi- another conference and officials have sporadically and Chinese trading com-
Obama is re-emerging on nese President Xi Jinping. have private meetings. floated the idea of direct panies dealing with the
the global stage with a Then in India, Obama will The tour comes as Presi- talks with North Korea if it North.
three-country tour that in- speak at a leadership dent Donald Trump is court- maintained restraint. North Korea called the ter-
cludes meetings with the meeting in New Delhi and ing the leaders of China An intercontinental bal- ror designation a “serious
leaders of China and India. meet Prime Minister Naren- and India, as he did during listic missile test will be provocation” that justifies
Obama’s office says he ar- dra Modi. a visit to Beijing earlier this considered particularly its development of nuclear
rived in Shanghai on Tues- He’ll also hold a town hall month.q provocative as it would weapons. q