Deputy Pentagon spokesman Singh warned on Thursday that it would be unwise for North Korea to threaten to use its nuclear weapons. The US is demanding the release of US soldiers detained after crossing the Military Demarcation Line on foot into North Korea.
North Korea’s Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam condemned the US nuclear-powered submarine Kentucky, which can carry ballistic missiles loaded with nuclear warheads, docking in Busan, South Korea on the 18th, saying that it “could fall under the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons” by North Korea. The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported the minister’s statement on the 20th.
“Such statements are very dangerous,” Deputy Press Secretary Singh said at a news conference in Washington. He added that the Kentucky port call is a testament to the longstanding cooperation between the United States and South Korea. In April, the leaders of the United States and South Korea agreed to strengthen “extended deterrence,” including the dispatch of strategic nuclear submarines to South Korea.
“We want him back,” Shin said of Private Travis King, 23, who crossed the border into North Korea on Saturday and was detained, adding that there were no indications North Korea would respond to a request for contact from the United States.
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news-rsf-original-reference paywall">Original title:US Slams North Korea’s ‘Dangerous’ Threat, Wants Soldier Back(excerpt)
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2023-07-21 07:56:48
