US Secretary of Defense: "Continuing North Korea Denuclearization Efforts, Resolving Deadlock Through Diplomacy" (Comprehensive)

Sanctions on North Korea Continue, Denuclearization Talks Remain Diplomatic... Trump Administration Maintains Stance
China Criticized for Threatening South China Sea Neighboring Countries... "Will Ensure Compliance with International Law"
US Secretary of Defense to Visit Palau for the First Time This Week... Missile Base Installation Talks Expected

On the 27th (local time), Mark Esper, U.S. Secretary of Defense, delivers a keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Security Forum held at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) in Honolulu, Hawaii. [Image source=U.S. Department of Defense]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Mark Esper, U.S. Secretary of Defense, currently visiting Hawaii, stated that efforts for North Korea's denuclearization will continue and that the deadlock will be resolved through diplomacy. He continued his criticism of China as a force threatening international cooperation. Secretary Esper is expected to make the first official visit this week by a U.S. Secretary of Defense to the Republic of Palau. Palau had previously been suggested as a potential site for the deployment of U.S. intermediate-range missile bases to counter China, and the visit itself is anticipated to have a deterrent effect against China.

On the 27th (local time), the U.S. Department of Defense announced via Twitter that Secretary Esper delivered the keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Security Forum held at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) in Honolulu, Hawaii. At this event, Secretary Esper said, "The United States will continue to pursue the complete and verifiable denuclearization of North Korea," adding, "While the U.S. military has the responsibility to maintain readiness against North Korea, diplomacy is the way to resolve the deadlock with Pyongyang." This reiterates the Trump administration's existing stance of continuing international sanctions and cooperation on North Korea while prioritizing diplomatic negotiations as a means for denuclearization.

He continued with strong remarks regarding China. Secretary Esper stated, "China is threatening Southeast Asian countries in the South China Sea," emphasizing, "We want China to return to a path of abiding by international law, and addressing this issue requires the help of many countries." The day before, Secretary Esper had contributed an article to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), stating, "The U.S. Department of Defense is preparing to counter the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party and will develop the power to overwhelm and deter China in all domains."

Secretary Esper is scheduled to visit Palau and Guam along with Hawaii this week. The U.S. Department of Defense announced the previous day that Secretary Esper will inspect this year's Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), which has been ongoing since the 17th and will continue until the 30th of this month, and will also attend the 75th anniversary ceremony of the end of World War II held in Hawaii on the 2nd of next month. RIMPAC is the world's largest joint military exercise, with navies from 10 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, including South Korea, participating annually.

In particular, Secretary Esper's official visit to Palau as the first U.S. Secretary of Defense is expected to attract international attention. In late August last year, following the termination of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), Secretary Esper expressed hope to deploy missiles to allied countries in the Asia region, with Palau and Japan's Ryukyu Islands mentioned as likely deployment sites. Palau, located in the eastern Philippines region, is a small island nation with a population of about 20,000 that has a Compact of Free Association with the United States and is known as an area where U.S. military access is unrestricted.

Secretary Esper's visit to Palau is expected to serve as military pressure on China. If the U.S. intermediate-range missile base is deployed in Palau, most of the South China Sea, including the Luzon Strait area between Taiwan and the Philippines, would fall within the U.S. strike range.

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