U.S. to provide more extended deterrence to S. Korea amid N. Korea threats

2+2 외교 국방회담 개최..북핵 압박 가속화 The United States has once again pledged to provide firm and extended deterrence for South Korea to counter the rising threats posed by North Korea. The pledge came during talks in Washington between the allies' foreign and defense chiefs. Defense ministry correspondent Kim Hyun-bin is in Washington with more. The focus of the so-called two-plus-two talks between South Korea's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and Defense Minister Han Min-koo and their American counterparts John Kerry and Ashton Carter... was on strengthening the U.S. extended deterrence policy against North Korea's ever-growing nuclear and missile threats, as well as maximizing the effectiveness of the sanctions on the regime. Speaking at a press conference after the talks,... Yun said North Korea needs to give up its nuclear ambitions or suffer the consequences. "Seoul and Washington have agreed that if North Korea does not give up its nuclear prowess, we will make them pay dearly. We will use all methods to pressure the regime, including sanctions." . Kerry said that Washington will do everything to defend South Korea and emphasized the need to speed up the planned deployment of a U.S. missile defense system to the peninsula. "There should be no doubt that the United States will do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves and to honor the security commitments that we have made to allies, including the Republic of Korea. And we will deploy as soon as possible a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery to our Korean ally." Carter emphasized that the U.S. is committed to providing extended deterrence, guaranteed by the full spectrum of U.S. defense capabilities. He warned Pyongyang that the use of any nuclear weapons would come at a massive price. "Make no mistake, any attack on America or our allies will not only be defeated but also any use of nuclear weapons will be met with an overwhelming and effective response." The two allies also agreed to enhance extended deterrence by swiftly establishing a new high-level bilateral body called the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group. On Thursday, Seoul's Defense Minister Han Min-koo will hold talks with his American counterpart Ashton Carter at the 48th annual Security Consultative Meeting. "Minister Han and Secretary Carter are expected to focus on the details of extended deterrence, and issues regarding permanently deploying a U.S. strategic asset to the peninsula, as well as the specific date to deploy THAAD to the South before the end of next year. Kim Hyun-bin, Arirang News, Washington, D.C." Visit ‘Arirang News’ Official Pages Facebook(NEWS):   / newsarirang   Homepage: http://www.arirang.com Facebook:   / arirangtv   Twitter:   / arirangworld   Instagram:   / arirangworld