Vice President Mike Pence told U. S. troops to “stay sharp” and “be ready” on Friday in the face of an increasing threat from North Korea.
Vice President Mike Pence Michael (Mike) Richard PencePence to visit Israel, Egypt: report Pence says US to stop funding ‘ineffective’ UN relief efforts Overnight Regulation: GOP flexes power over consumer agency | Trump lets states expand drone use | Senate panel advances controversial EPA pick | House passes bill to curb ‘sue-and-settle’ regs MORE told U. S. troops to “stay sharp” and “be ready” on Friday in the face of an increasing threat from North Korea.
“Now more than ever your commander-in-chief is depending on you to be ready. Stay sharp, mind your mission,” Pence said at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.
“Anyone who would threaten our nation should know that America always seeks peace, but if we are forced to defend ourselves or our allies, we will do so with military power that is effective and overwhelming. And those gathered here at Minot Air Force Base will play a critical role again,” he said.
The base would play a critical role in the face of an attack with it housing 26 B-52 bombers and 150 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) sites.
Pence’s comments come as tensions have risen between the U. S. and North Korea.
Pyongyang conducted a slew of ICBM launches this year, prompting President Trump to ratchet his rhetoric up against the nation.
Trump threatened to “totally destroy” North Korea if they continued to defy the international community last month on the floor of the United Nations.
Pence attempted to strike a more diplomatic tone on Friday, but said military action was not off the table.
“I can assure you that the United States will continue to marshal economic and diplomatic pressure to demand that North Korea abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs,” the vice president said, adding that President Trump “has made clear” that all options are on the table.
Pences comments come after Defense Secretary James Mattis James Norman MattisPence to visit ICBM base McAfee stops allowing governments to review source code Terror designation for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards a necessary first step MORE offered his support to U. S. troops stationed in South Korea on Friday, telling them the U. S. was doing everything it could to solve the crisis on the Korean peninsula through diplomatic means.
Mattis’s visit comes before President Trump embarks on a 12-day trip to Asia on Nov. 3.
