The US Pentagon Chief James
Mattis has declared that any threat
to the United States or its allies by
North Korea will be met with a
“massive military response”.
Mattis’ remarks came shortly after a
national security briefing with President
Donald Trump about the secretive
communist state’s latest nuclear test.
Pyongyang earlier said it had
successfully trialled a hydrogen bomb
that could be loaded on to a long-range
missile.
The move has drawn international
condemnation.
North Korea also defied UN sanctions
and international pressure by developing
nuclear weapons and test missiles that
could potentially reach the US.
But speaking to reporters outside the
White House, Defence Secretary Mattis
said the US had the ability to defend
itself and its allies South Korea and
Japan, adding that its commitments were
“ironclad”.
“Any threat to the United States or its
territories – including Guam – or our
allies will be met with a massive military
response, a response both effective and
overwhelming.”
Read his full statement:
Good afternoon ladies and
gentlemen.
We had a small-group national
security meeting today with the
president and the vice-president
about the latest provocation on
the Korean peninsula.
We have many military options
and the president wanted to be
briefed on each one of them.
We made clear that we have the
ability to defend ourselves and
our allies,South Korea and Japan,
from any attack and our
commitments among the allies
are iron-clad. Any threat to the
United States or its territories
including Guam, or our allies, will
be met with a massive military
response, a response both
effective and overwhelming.
Kim Jong-un should take heed of
the United Nations security
council’s unified voice, all
members unanimously agreed on
the threat North Koreaposes, and
they remain unanimous in their
commitment to the
denuclearization of the Korean
peninsula.
Because we are not looking to
the total annihilation of a
country, namely North Korea, but
as I said we have many options
to do so.
Thank you very much, ladies and
gentlemen.
