Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Thursday that U.S. forces are ready to “fight tonight,” in response to the resumption of North Korean exercises between the U.S. and South Korea.
U.S. and South Korean forces have resumed military exercises after stopping the exercises more than a year ago over coronavirus issues.
“Our force remains ready to‘ fight tonight ’and we continue to move towards the eventual transition of operational war control to a [Republic of Korea]”Commanded, future command of the combined forces,” said Austin.
“While meeting all the conditions for this transition will take longer, I am confident that this process will strengthen our alliance,” the Secretary of Defense continued.
Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Japan on Monday for a four-day trip with the goal of reiterating the U.S. commitment to the region’s allies.
Washington-led diplomatic efforts focused on denuclearizing North Korea have remained stalled by sanctions disputes. Experts weigh a possible compromise that would freeze the dictatorship’s nuclear activities in exchange for relaxing sanctions.
“We are committed to the denuclearization of North Korea, reducing the wider threat posed by the DPRK to the United States and our allies and improving the lives of all Koreans, including the people of North Korea who continue to suffer widespread abuse. and systematic hands of his repressive government, “Austin told a news conference Thursday.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister reprimanded the Biden administration earlier this week as it slammed the war exercises, which Pyongyang considers an invasion attempt.
“We take this opportunity to warn the new US administration that it is trying to smell dust in our land,” Kim Yo Jong said in a statement to state news agency KCNA. “If you want to sleep peacefully for the next four years, you better refrain from stinking on your first step.”
Some experts think the Hermit Kingdom will scale missile tests as a negotiation tactic. The country’s economic downturn has been affected by recent natural disasters and pandemic-related border restrictions that have affected trade.
With publishing cables