US fears nuclear arms race in Asia-Pacific

(Baonghean.vn)- After a discussion in New York on May 26, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said that senior officials of US President Donald Trump's administration fear a nuclear arms race in the Asia-Pacific region if North Korea's provocative actions are not restrained.

North Korea has conducted a series of missile tests this year. Photo: AFP

In New York, Secretary Bishop held discussions with US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. After the meeting, Ms. Bishop said: “In discussions with senior officials in both South Korea and the United States, the common view is that countries need to recognize that North Korea is a nuclear weapons state, and therefore Japan and South Korea need to focus on strengthening their nuclear weapons capabilities. That is why there is a strong view that North Korea must be restrained in this capacity.”

Secretary Bishop stressed the “clear and unequivocal” message from US Ambassador to the UN Haley, saying that “when the US asserts that all options are on the table, they mean it, they are not joking,” referring to Washington’s deployment of nuclear submarines to the region.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Photo: Reuters

The US has expressed its willingness to sit down at the negotiating table with North Korea if Pyongyang stops its missile and nuclear tests, but warned of a military intervention option, raising concerns about a military conflict on the Korean peninsula.

Recently, Pyongyang's continuous missile and nuclear tests have made the US worried that if these activities continue, other countries in the region such as Japan and South Korea may be forced to seek their own nuclear capabilities as a defense measure./.

Lan Ha

(According to AFP)