We start off with a phone conversation between the South Korean and American defense ministers...
Han Min-koo and his new U.S. counterpart, James Mattis, once again reaffirmed their
will to deploy the THAAD missile defense system on the Korean peninsula,... while pledging
to stand strong against any North Korean provocations.
The talks came ahead of the U.S. defense chief's trip to Seoul on Thursday.
Connie Kim reports.
The defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States have reaffirmed their plan to
bring the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system to the Korean peninsula in
response to North Korea's missile threats.
Seoul's defense ministry said Defense Minister Han Min-koo and his U.S. counterpart, James
Mattis, held telephone talks on Tuesday, during which they expressed serious concern over
North Korea's escalating threat and acknowledged the need to strengthen cooperation on North
Korea policies.
Han and Mattis also said there's a possibility North Korea could launch a strategic or tactical
provocation as it could misjudge the transition of power in Seoul and Washington.
During the thirty-minute conversation, the two also agreed to uphold Washington's provision
of extended deterrence against North Korea's provocations... and to maintain a strong military
readiness posture to respond immediately in an emergency situation.
Pyongyang has been ratcheting up tensions in the weeks since Kim Jong-un announced in
his New Year's address that the regime is in the final stages of test-firing an intercontinental
ballistic missile.
Acknowledging the growing threat from the North, Mattis' first overseas trip as defense
secretary is to South Korea and Japan this week... to shore up relations with the two
U.S. allies.
In Seoul, he will be meeting with Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn and National
Security Office chief Kim Kwan-jin on the first day of his two-day visit, followed by
talks with South Korea's defense minister the next day to discuss North Korea's missile
programs and ways to boost the Seoul-Washington alliance.
"South Korea will be the first stop on Mattis' trip... and Seoul is hoping the visit will
allow the two allies to re-commit to their mutual defense treaty... and further solidify
their defenses against North Korea's threats.
Connie Kim, Arirang News."
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