U.S. Defense Chief Reassures Asia Allies of Protection Against North Korean Nukes

by Dramelin 8:30 PM 0 comments

Defense Secretary James Mattis reassured allies in Asia on Friday that the U.S. would protect them against any nuclear attack from North Korea. Mattis, who is making his first overseas trip to South Korea and Japan, said President Donald Trump?s administration was committed to expanding defense ties between the Northeast Asian nations. He reaffirmed a commitment to put a missile defense system known as Thaad in South Korea, accusing Kim Jong Un?s regime of ?threatening rhetoric and destabilizing behavior.??America?s commitments to defending our allies and to upholding our extended deterrence guarantees remain ironclad,? Mattis said in Seoul on Friday. ?Any attack on the United States, or our allies, will be defeated, and any use of nuclear weapons would be met with a response that would be effective and overwhelming.?Mattis?s remarks come as Trump?s salvos on historical allies such as Japan and Australia rattle policy makers in Asia who have depended on the U.S. to maintain stability in the region since World War II.