2024-01-26 22:13:26
The U.S. White House reaffirmed its commitment to protecting allies in relation to North Korea’s pursuit of advanced weapons capabilities. He emphasized that he will not let down his guard once morest the possibility of North Korea’s provocations aimed at interfering in the election. Reporter Ahn So-young reports.
John Kirby, the White House National Security Council (NSC) strategic communications coordinator, said on the 26th, “We will do what we have to do to protect the United States, our allies, and our partners.”
[녹취: 커비 조정관] “I think I’ll refrain from getting into intelligence assessments. We know that the North Koreans continue to pursue advanced capabilities, including ballistic missile capabilities that that that they want to have. They want to be able to achieve long range outcomes. We’re going to do what we have to do to make sure we can protect the United States, protect our allies and partners.”
At the regular briefing on this day, Coordinator Kirby was asked, “Do you think North Korea has the capability to attack the United States?” He said, “I will not comment on the intelligence assessment,” but added, “We know that North Korea is continuing to pursue cutting-edge capabilities, such as ballistic missile capabilities.” “I know,” he replied.
He added, “They want to achieve long-range (missile) results.”
Coordinator Kirby emphasized, “The president has been deploying a lot of capabilities to the region, and in particular, we have been working really hard to be able to defend ourselves through trilateral cooperation with Japan and South Korea.”
[녹취: 커비 조정관] “And the president has devoted more capabilities into the region and has worked really hard with our counterparts in Japan and South Korea, particularly on trilateral cooperation, to be able to defend ourselves.”
Regarding the possibility of North Korea’s provocations to interfere in the U.S. presidential election in November and the Korean general election in April, Coordinator Kirby made clear the existing position that “no foreign actor, state or not, should interfere with our elections.”
[녹취: 커비 조정관] “No foreign actor, state or not or non-state should interfere in our elections, period. And we’re going to be just as vigilant in this election cycle as we have been in the past regarding doing what we can to identify and thwart any attempts for election interference.”
“We will remain vigilant during this election cycle, as we have in the past, to identify and deter attempts to interfere,” Kirby added.
Some say that North Korea’s continued provocations in the new year are aimed at influencing elections in the United States and South Korea.
At the same time, it is predicted that North Korea may take additional actions in the future.
North Korea, which began provocations with its first ballistic missile launch of the year on the 14th, has since been heightening tensions by firing various missiles, including artillery fire and cruise missile launches in the West Sea.
This is Ahn So-young from VOA News.
1706320082
#White #House #responds #North #Koreas #threats #protect #allies
