Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned on Thursday that American forces are ready to “fight tonight” in response to the resumption of North Korea’s violent training between the United States and South Korea.
US and South Korean forces resumed military exercises after stopping exercises more than a year ago because of concerns about the coronavirus.
“Our strength remains ready to ‘fight tonight’ and we continue to make progress towards the eventual transition from Operational Control in wartime to a [Republic of Korea]commanded, future Combined Forces Command, ”said Austin.
“Although fulfilling all the conditions for this transition will take longer, I am confident that this process will strengthen our alliance,” continued the Secretary of Defense.
Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Japan on Monday for a four-day trip to reiterate the United States’ commitment to allies in the region.
Diplomatic efforts led by Washington with a focus on denuclearizing North Korea have remained paralyzed because of sanctions disputes. Experts are evaluating a potential agreement that would freeze the dictatorship’s nuclear activities in exchange for relaxing sanctions.
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“We are committed to denuclearizing North Korea, reducing the broader threat that the DPRK poses to the United States and our allies and improving the lives of all Koreans, including the people of North Korea, who continue to experience widespread abuse. and systematic in the hands of his repressive government, ”Austin said at a news conference on Thursday.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister scolded the Biden government earlier this week while carrying out war exercises, which Pyongyang sees as an invasion rehearsal.
“We take this opportunity to alert the new United States administration that is striving to release the smell of gunpowder on our land,” said Kim Yo Jong in a statement to the state news agency KCNA. “If he wants to sleep peacefully for the next four years, he better not cause a stink in the first stage.”
Some experts believe that the Hermit Kingdom will scale its missile tests as a negotiating tactic. The country’s declining economy is recovering from recent natural disasters and pandemic-related border restrictions that have affected trade.
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