The US military is ready to respond to North Korea's 'Christmas gift'.
(Baonghean.vn) - Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that US military forces in South Korea are on "high alert" in anticipation of North Korea potentially conducting long-range missile and nuclear tests.
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| US Defense Secretary Mark Esper. Photo: AP |
According to the Pentagon, US and South Korean forces remain on high alert, despite the cancellation of large-scale joint military exercises as a gesture of goodwill toward North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
North Korea recently tested several new rocket engines, believed to be intended for long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of targeting the United States. Earlier this month, Pyongyang warned it was preparing a “Christmas gift” option for U.S. President Donald Trump as the deadline it had set for resuming talks was approaching.
CNN quoted General Charles Q. Brown, commander of the U.S. Pacific Air Force, as telling a group of reporters in Washington on December 17th that North Korea could test a long-range missile before or after Christmas, or possibly in the early part of the new year. Brown's assessment was based on Pyongyang's previous actions, not on intelligence information. He also emphasized that the U.S. remains focused on a diplomatic solution. "The military is always prepared to respond only when diplomatic efforts fail," Brown added.
Analysts suggest that Pyongyang is feeling frustrated by what it perceives as a lack of flexibility and creativity from US negotiators. Meanwhile, some experts believe Kim Jong-un may be facing domestic pressure. Vipin Narang, an associate professor at Massachusetts, commented: “It appears that North Korea has made a strategic decision that talks with the US are not yielding results, and they will have to take a ‘new path’.”
