US vows to provide military aid to Seoul
Iran Press TV
Mon Mar 18, 2013 1:52PM
US Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has vowed to provide any military assistance to South Korea under America's nuclear umbrella amid heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula due to Pyongyang's recent nuclear test.
"We'll ensure all of our resources will be available to our alliance," said Carter following talks with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-Jin during his tour of four Asian allied countries including South Korea, Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia.
"We remain steadfast to our commitment to extended deterrence offered by the US nuclear umbrella," Carter added.
This is while earlier on Friday US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced that Washington planned to deploy 14 more interceptors in Alaska to strengthen its defenses against a possible missile strike by North Korea.
Pyongyang staged its third nuclear test in February 2013, which drew immediate condemnation from the UN and several countries including the United States. North Korea also launched a long-range rocket that placed a satellite into orbit in December 2012.
On March 7, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution against North Korea over its new atomic test.
Drafted by the United States and China, the resolution tightened Pyongyang's financial dealings and added new names to the UN sanctions blacklist.
On March 11, Seoul and Washington launched a week-long annual joint military exercise near the Korean Peninsula despite warnings from Pyongyang, which condemned the maneuvers as a launch pad for a "nuclear war."
North Korea said its latest nuclear test was a 'self-defense' measure in the face of increasing threats by the United States.
North Korea has also accused Washington and Seoul of staging "persistent and intensive" cyber attacks against its official websites and internet servers.
MAM/JR
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