PANMUNJOM (South Korea) • US Defence Secretary James Mattis emphasised diplomatic efforts to resolve the North Korean missile and nuclear crisis as he stood at the tense and heavily fortified border between North and South yesterday, saying: «Our goal is not war.».
PANMUNJOM (South Korea) • US Defence Secretary James Mattis emphasised diplomatic efforts to resolve the North Korean missile and nuclear crisis as he stood at the tense and heavily fortified border between North and South yesterday, saying: «Our goal is not war.»
His remarks came before President Donald Trump, who has threatened to destroy the North if necessary, leaves on his first trip to Asia next week, including a stop in South Korea to meet President Moon Jae In.
For his part, Mr Moon, after talks with Mr Mattis, said the «aggressive deployment» of US strategic assets in the region, which have included overflights by US bombers, had been effective in deterring the North Korean threat.
Tension between North Korea and the United States has been building after a series of nuclear and missile tests by Pyongyang and bellicose verbal exchanges between Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, stoking fears that any miscalculation could lead to an armed confrontation.
