Mattis reaffirms pledge to defend South Korea against 'evolving' North Korean threat

ASIA PACIFIC

Mattis reaffirms pledge to defend South Korea against ‘evolving’ North Korean threat

U.S. and South Korean army soldiers pose on a floating bridge on the Hantan River during a joint military exercise against a possible attack from North Korea, in Yeoncheon, South Korea, in December 2015. | AP

By Jesse Johnson
Staff Writer

Jan 31, 2017

U.S. defense chief James Mattis spoke with his South Korean counterpart over the telephone Monday to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to defending its Asian ally, the Pentagon said in a statement, amid concerns over North Korea’s nuclear program.

Mattis spoke with South Korea Defense Minister Han Min-koo amid reports that the North could conduct a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) soon.

Mattis said the U.S. commitment to defending South Korea included providing “extended deterrence using the full range of U.S. capabilities.”