US not seeing indications of 'direct' N. Korean threat at this time: Washington official
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un delivers a speech during the 19th enlarged meeting of the political bureau of the eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party, in this undated photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Jan. 25. The North held the meeting from Jan. 23-24 to confirm and clarify an epochal milestone in the development of regional industry, the KCNA said. Yonhap
The United States is not seeing indications of a direct military threat from North Korea at the moment, a U.S. official said Thursday, after Washington officials were reported to have warned North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could take some "lethal" military action against South Korea in the coming months.
Earlier in the day, The New York Times (NYT) reported on the possibility of the North's military action as concerns rose over Kim's pugnacious rhetoric against the South and his regime's repeated weapons tests, including this week's launch of what it claimed to be a new strategic cruise missile.
"While we are not seeing indications of a direct military threat at this time, we continue to monitor for the risk of DPRK military action against the ROK and Japan, in close consultation with our ROK and Japanese allies," the official said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency.
ROK stands for the South's official name, the Republic of Korea, while the DPRK is the acronym of the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The official also stressed the strong state of security cooperation between Seoul and Washington and their trilateral cooperation with Japan.
"While the DPRK has continued its provocative and destabilizing actions in the region, under President Biden, the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea has never been stronger," the official said.
"In addition, the unparalleled trilateral cooperation between the United States, Japan and the ROK directly contributes to regional security amid the DPRK's destabilizing actions and rhetoric," the official added.
The NYT reported on the U.S. officials' assessment, noting that North Korean leader's tough rhetoric against the South has been more aggressive than his previous statements and should be taken "seriously."
Concerns about the North's future course of action have risen recently as Kim has called for beefed-up war readiness and preparations for a "great event to suppress South Korea's whole territory in the event of a contingency." Kim has also pushed for a constitutional revision to label the South as the "invariable principal enemy."
Last Friday, John Kirby, the U.S. National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, noted the need to take Kim's rhetoric "seriously."
"You have to take rhetoric like that seriously from a man in charge of the regime that continues to pursue advanced military capabilities, including nuclear capabilities," Kirby told a press briefing.
The North's provocative streak comes amid already heightened cross-border tensions following the North's exit from a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement aimed at reducing border tensions and preventing accidental clashes. (Yonhap)
(责任编辑:产品中心)
- Doosan scraps controversial Robotics
- City's Al Mubarak vows to 'push envelope' after SL 'mistake'
- This dog did himself a scare after snoring so loudly he woke himself up
- Minister, biz leaders discuss North Korean demand for facility removal from Mount Kumgang
- NASA rover snaps photo of its most daunting challenge yet
- 21 College and University Museums
- 充分发挥党组织核心作用 推动基层党建工作全面进步全面过硬
- It’s increasingly looking like China was behind the massive Marriott data hack
- Trump gets 'DO NOT CONGRATULATE' Putin note from advisor. Then he did.
- North Korea says it conducted important test to develop multiple warhead missile
- Real Madrid turn to a familiar face and hire Ancelotti as coach
- 广西贺州:全力东融连湾区,产业发展启新篇
- 国道318线天全境内黄大牙路段通行车辆车型限制大幅放开
-
Google has announced that Gemini, its AI tool that rivals ChatGPT, now supports AI-generated images ...[详细]
-
Cheong Wa Dae, spy agency show different views over North Korea's ICBM capabilities
National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong speaks during the National Assembly's annual audit int ...[详细] -
Does anyone actually doubt Trump is not mentally fit for office?
Given everything that’s happened since the start of the year, it’s easy to forget that just this pas ...[详细] -
Kim orders demolition of 'unpleasant
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, inspects the Mount Gumgang resort on the east coast once jo ...[详细] -
[From the Scene] How ‘world’s first oil town’ is wrestling to become ‘green'
City of Baku, Azerbaijan (Getty Imgage)BAKU, Azerbaijan -- Driving just a few miles from the venue o ...[详细] -
Trump, Congress meet to discuss a DACA deal.
Nearly two dozen legislators joined the president at the White House on Tuesday for what was suppose ...[详细] -
雅安日报/北纬网讯市工商局提供的一组数据显示:截至11月底,全市新登记企业2331户,同比增长17.61%。企业增量再创新高,全市平均每月新登记企业233户,月新增量是商事制度改革以来最高的一年。同时 ...[详细]
-
随着社会生活水平的提高,人们对健康生活提出了更高的要求,闲暇时打打球、散散步已成为人们日常必不可少的生活习惯。健身设施随处可见,健身路径遍布城乡,各种全民健身广场、场馆和健身公园更是为群众提供了健身的 ...[详细]
-
South Korean lawmakers brace for US election as Harris, Trump diverge on North Korea
Democratic presidential nominee and US Vice President Kamala Harris waves from the stage on Day 4 of ...[详细] -
25日至26日,青少年轮滑公开赛在我市举行,比赛不仅吸引了很多我市的少年儿童参加,更有来自省内的多个轮滑俱乐部组队前来比赛。比赛分为轮滑场地赛、轮滑接力赛和轮滑钻杆赛,最小的参赛选手只有4岁,最大的1 ...[详细]