The U.S. Department of Defense has assured that a possible nuclear attack by North Korea would mean the «end» of the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who has carried out a new launch of two short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea.
The US authorities have also stressed that they will hold Pyongyang responsible for «any transfer of nuclear weapons, material or technology to third countries», as indicated by the Department in its National Defense Strategy.
«Any nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners would be unacceptable and would result in the end of the regime», states the text, which stresses that «there is no scenario in which the Kim regime could use this type of weaponry and survive».
The new defense strategy of the US government has been drawn up in the context of the growing speculation about the possibility of Pyongyang carrying out a nuclear test in the near future. The Asian country conducted the sixth such test in September 2017.
John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, has stated that Kim «could be preparing to conduct one of these tests at any time» and warned that this «only brings greater instability to the peninsula and contributes to degrading the state of security in the area.»
In this sense, he reaffirmed Washington’s commitment with Pyongyang, but assured that the United States will continue to prepare for «possible contingencies».
North Korea has launched a total of 44 ballistic missiles so far this year, a record number for the country. Friday’s launch took place in the vicinity of Tongchon, in Kangwon province, at around 12:00 (local time), according to information from South Korean authorities.
The missiles in question flew over 230 kilometers and landed in the waters of the Sea of Japan. This test comes as South Korea completes its military exercises in the region and ahead of joint exercises planned with the United States next week.
