South Korea and the United States will take steps to expand cooperation in defense technology exchanges and the conventional arms trade, the defense ministry said Wednesday.
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On the sidelines of the defense talks, Hwang met Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert O. Work to share views on extended efforts between the two allies to cope with ever-growing nuclear and military threats from North Korea, it said.
Kerry, who is in the Laotian capital to attend an Asia-Pacific security conference that includes North Korea, told reporters Tuesday that North Korea is the only country that is moving in the opposite direction when the rest of the world is moving toward a nuclear-free world.
Ri, who came to Laos on Sunday to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) this year, has been mum on media questions seeking his remarks on the North’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and what he would say during the largest regional security gathering. The United States stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea and regularly holds joint military drills with South Korea.
In response the UN Security Council slapped North Korea with its toughest sanctions to date in a unanimous decision even endorsed by China, its economic lifeline and diplomatic shield. Pyongyang has long demanded Washington withdraw its troops from South Korea and stop the joint drills, which it calls an invasion rehearsal.
“(The) issue that came up in almost every meeting I had so far this week is the provocative and deeply concerning behavior of the DPRK”, he told reporters.
Some analysts say North Korea has developed a handful of crude nuclear devices and is working toward building a warhead small enough to mount on a long-range missile capable of reaching the continental U.S. However, South Korean defense officials say the North has neither such a miniaturized warhead nor a functioning intercontinental ballistic missile.
In its latest provocations, North Korea fired off three ballistic missiles claiming the move was aimed at preparing it forces to carry out pre-emptive strikes against South Korea ports and airfields.
Analysts say this year’s tests have shown the North making progress towards its goal of developing a credible strike threat against the U.S. mainland, adding urgency to Washington’s warnings.
The North was seen to be in a state of readiness to conduct an additional nuclear test, according to South Korean officials and experts.
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Kerry said if Iran can give up nuclear weapons so can North Korea. “In February, March, April, May, continually they have done missile tests”, he said. “It’s hard. It’s not going to happen tomorrow”.
