US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday that any nuclear attack on the US or its allies by North Korea would “bring the end of the Kim regime”, according to The Guardian, taken from News.ro.

Lloyd AustinPhoto: Vano Shlamov / AFP / Profimedia

Kim Jong Un’s government in Pyongyang has conducted a series of missile tests in recent days. South Korea’s military said Thursday’s test of an intercontinental ballistic missile may have failed. Japan called the launch “outrageous and absolutely intolerable”.[toareşiaabsolutintolerabila”[toareşiabsolutintolerabilă”

According to a joint statement released by the US Department of Defense, during a meeting with South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, Austin said: “Any nuclear attack against the United States or its allies and partners, including the use of strategic nuclear weapons. , is unacceptable and will lead to the end of the Kim regime.”

Similar wording was used in the US National Defense Strategy, which was released last week.

In particular, the document states: “Our strategy for North Korea recognizes the threat posed by its nuclear, chemical, missile and conventional capabilities, and in particular the need to make clear to the Kim regime the dire consequences if it uses nuclear weapons. There is no scenario in which the Kim regime could use nuclear weapons and survive.”

Together with Lee Austin, he spoke with the media at the Pentagon.

“Secretary Lee and I had a great discussion today,” Austin said. “We have spoken about how North Korea has continued its provocations and destabilizing actions, and at this moment of heightened tension, our alliance is strong.”

“The United States remains fully committed to the defense of South Korea. Our enhanced deterrence commitment is firm and includes the full range of our nuclear, conventional and missile defense capabilities,” he explained.

Austinl emphasized that the two countries plan to resume large-scale military exercises on the peninsula. The Biden administration’s move comes after four years in which Donald Trump repeatedly said he wanted South Korea to pay for US military aid dating back to the 1950-1953 Korean War.