Former Bolton Aide: "US-ROK Joint Military Exercises Must Resume to Counter Kim Jong-un Threat"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Kim Bong-su] John Bolton, former U.S. National Security Council (NSC) advisor, urged on the 1st (local time) that joint military exercises between South Korea and the U.S. should be resumed in response to North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's threat to restart nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests.

Bolton posted on Twitter that day, "How should we respond to Kim Jong-un's New Year's threat?" and insisted, "The U.S. must fully resume all military exercises that were canceled or scaled down in South Korea."

He also demanded, "Congress should hold hearings to determine whether Americans are truly 'ready to fight tonight.'"

Earlier, at the Workers' Party plenary meeting from the 28th to 31st of last month, Kim indicated the abandonment of the declaration to suspend nuclear and ICBM tests, threatening to take "shocking actions" by saying, "Soon, you will witness new strategic weapons." However, he left room for dialogue by stating, "The scope and depth of our (nuclear) deterrence enhancement will be adjusted upward depending on the future U.S. stance toward North Korea."

Bolton, known as one of the leading hawks on North Korea in the U.S. and an advocate of preemptive strikes, was dismissed last September due to disagreements with President Donald Trump over North Korea negotiation strategies.

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