US Deputy Defense Secretary: "If North Korea Launches Missiles, Response May Be Offensive, Not Defensive"

John Rood, U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Confirmation Hearing
"Deterrence of North Korean Threat Requires Both Defense and Offense"
"North Korea Cannot Achieve Economic and Nuclear Goals Simultaneously... Dialogue Is the Only Solution"

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un watched a holiday commemorative performance at the Samjiyon Theater on the Lunar New Year's Day, the 25th, together with his wife Ri Sol Ju, Chosun Central TV reported on the 26th. Choe Ryong Hae, First Vice Chairman of the State Affairs Commission; Kim Kyong Hui, former Labor Party Secretary, sister of Kim Jong Il and wife of the executed Jang Song Thaek; Ri Il Hwan, Vice Chairman of the Labor Party; Jo Yong Won and Kim Yo Jong, First Deputy Directors of the Party; and Hyun Song Wol, Deputy Director, also attended the performance. Chairman Kim waved his hand to the audience in greeting, while Ri Sol Ju clapped beside him.

As North Korea mentioned a 'new strategic weapon' and warned of 'shocking actual actions,' John Rood, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy, said on the 28th (local time) that such threats could be preemptively blocked with offensive responses.

Deputy Secretary Rood attended a House Armed Services Committee hearing that day and said, "We need to appropriately defend to deter it and, if necessary, to defeat it," adding, "This is not just through defense alone. Offense can play a role in responding to (North Korea's) attacks."

Regarding North Korea's missile launch tests, he said, "I believe North Korea has a message, and we have received that message," emphasizing the need to halt the tests by stating, "North Korea does not need to send another message."

While clearly sending a warning message to North Korea, Deputy Secretary Rood placed emphasis on dialogue and negotiation. He explained that President Donald Trump's North Korea strategy is multifaceted and that the U.S. government is working toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea.

Rood said, "North Korea must understand that the only way out of economic isolation is to engage in meaningful, good-faith negotiations toward complete denuclearization."

He stressed that although South Korea and the U.S. are prepared to fight even tonight, "The goal remains to maintain a strong and ready military to provide diplomatic space (between North Korea and the U.S.). This was the basis for the decision to suspend major exercises."

Regarding sanctions on North Korea, he said, "They are critical to ensuring North Korea clearly recognizes that the simultaneous goals of illegal weapons development and economic growth cannot coexist," adding that without pressure on North Korea, achievable outcomes seem unlikely.

When asked about the possibility of North Korea denuclearizing, he said, "I do not think we should recognize North Korea as a nuclear-armed state," pointing out that North Korea's nuclear weapons possession and the potential for proliferation are major concerns.

Asked if there is evidence that North Korea has been involved in nuclear proliferation to other countries, he said, "North Korea has a long record of proliferating military capabilities, including ballistic missiles, to several countries, and has a history as a proliferator that genuinely concerns us," but refrained from further comments due to the public nature of the hearing.

However, when questions about North Korea's nuclear proliferation activities continued, he said, "Clearly, North Korea has been involved in some proliferation activities in the past," but added, "Currently, we do not see North Korea engaged in nuclear proliferation."

Additionally, Deputy Secretary Rood expressed deep concern about North Korea's biochemical weapons capabilities.

In response to a lawmaker's question about North Korea's biochemical weapons capabilities, he said, "North Korea possesses a significant level of biochemical weapons," emphasizing that "(North Korea's biochemical weapons) are a very concerning issue."

When asked whether signing a peace agreement first would help advance negotiations with North Korea, he replied, "That is another issue to be resolved through negotiations with North Korea," adding, "If such a thing can be negotiated with North Korea, it would be in our interest."

Along with this, Deputy Secretary Rood evaluated China as the country with the greatest influence over North Korea and emphasized China's role in sanctions against North Korea.

He said, "Much of the trade often occurs through illegal ship-to-ship transfers near the Chinese coast," and noted that China's sometimes less stringent or inconsistent enforcement of sanctions remains an ongoing concern.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.