ID :
64079
Wed, 06/03/2009 - 18:06
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/64079
The shortlink copeid
U.S. delegation briefed on N. Korean nuclear, missile threats
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, June 3 (Yonhap) -- A high-level U.S. delegation visiting Seoul was briefed
Wednesday by the commanders of the South Korea-U.S. combined forces on the
military threat posed by the intransigent communist state.
The delegation, led by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, arrived in
Seoul after visiting Japan, where it discussed ways to rein in North Korea, which
conducted its second nuclear test on May 25 and also appears to be preparing to
test-fire a ballistic missile theoretically capable of hitting Alaska and Hawaii.
"Critical to achieving that is our strong security cooperation," Steinberg told
South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee and U.S. Gen. Walter Sharp of the U.S.
Forces Korea.
The delegation included Stephen Bosworth, special representative on North Korea
policy, and Treasury Undersecretary Stuart Levey, a specialist in dealing with
funds linked to terrorism.
The U.S. delegates received a 15-minute top-secret presentation titled "North
Korean threat evaluation and readiness posture," according to South Korean
officials who attended the meeting.
The delegates, also including Wallace Gregson, assistant secretary of defense for
Asian Pacific affairs, and Jeffrey Bader, senior director for Asian Affairs at
the National Security Council, held a 30-minute discussion session after the
presentation, they said.
"The opportunity to hear from your officials and from ours and to exchanges views
on this question is extremely important to make sure that there's no doubt in the
minds of the leaders of North Korea that we're determined" to defend against its
threat, Steinberg said.
South Koran Gen. Kim Tae-young, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was also
present at the meeting while Joseph DeTrani, mission manager for North Korea for
the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and Vice Admiral James
Winnefeld of the Joint Chiefs of Staff sat on the U.S. side.
"We have a common view of the dangers posed by North Korea's missile and nuclear
developments, and a common commitment to try to find the path forward to reverse
this," Steinberg said.
Steinberg met with South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan earlier Wednesday.
His delegation will fly to China later this week to coordinate ways to pressure
North Korea to end its nuclear and missile development.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, June 3 (Yonhap) -- A high-level U.S. delegation visiting Seoul was briefed
Wednesday by the commanders of the South Korea-U.S. combined forces on the
military threat posed by the intransigent communist state.
The delegation, led by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, arrived in
Seoul after visiting Japan, where it discussed ways to rein in North Korea, which
conducted its second nuclear test on May 25 and also appears to be preparing to
test-fire a ballistic missile theoretically capable of hitting Alaska and Hawaii.
"Critical to achieving that is our strong security cooperation," Steinberg told
South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee and U.S. Gen. Walter Sharp of the U.S.
Forces Korea.
The delegation included Stephen Bosworth, special representative on North Korea
policy, and Treasury Undersecretary Stuart Levey, a specialist in dealing with
funds linked to terrorism.
The U.S. delegates received a 15-minute top-secret presentation titled "North
Korean threat evaluation and readiness posture," according to South Korean
officials who attended the meeting.
The delegates, also including Wallace Gregson, assistant secretary of defense for
Asian Pacific affairs, and Jeffrey Bader, senior director for Asian Affairs at
the National Security Council, held a 30-minute discussion session after the
presentation, they said.
"The opportunity to hear from your officials and from ours and to exchanges views
on this question is extremely important to make sure that there's no doubt in the
minds of the leaders of North Korea that we're determined" to defend against its
threat, Steinberg said.
South Koran Gen. Kim Tae-young, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was also
present at the meeting while Joseph DeTrani, mission manager for North Korea for
the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and Vice Admiral James
Winnefeld of the Joint Chiefs of Staff sat on the U.S. side.
"We have a common view of the dangers posed by North Korea's missile and nuclear
developments, and a common commitment to try to find the path forward to reverse
this," Steinberg said.
Steinberg met with South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan earlier Wednesday.
His delegation will fly to China later this week to coordinate ways to pressure
North Korea to end its nuclear and missile development.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
