US Secretary of State: "North Korea's UN Security Council Resolution Violations Increase Instability... Launch Capabilities Under Assessment"

"Investigating Which Technology Was Used"
US Department of Defense Emphasizes "US Mainland Is Safe"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken expressed concern that North Korea's recent missile launch tests violate United Nations Security Council resolutions and increase instability regarding North Korea. However, he took a cautious stance, stating that investigations are still ongoing regarding North Korea's missile launch capabilities, including whether the latest hypersonic missile launch was successful as claimed by North Korea. The U.S. Department of Defense also emphasized that it is investigating the missiles launched by North Korea and that there is no concern about a strike on the U.S. mainland.

On the 30th (local time), Secretary Blinken, at a press conference held immediately after the first U.S.-European Union (EU) Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting in Pittsburgh, warned, "We are concerned about North Korea's repeated violations of UN Security Council resolutions," adding, "This is increasing instability and the potential for risk regarding North Korea."

Regarding the new missile that North Korea claims to be a hypersonic missile, Blinken expressed a cautious position. He said, "We are still evaluating and analyzing the missile North Korea launched, and investigating to understand exactly what North Korea did and what technology was used," adding, "Regardless of the type of launch, we have witnessed repeated violations of UN Security Council resolutions."

He also expressed support for the South Korean government's measures to ease tensions with North Korea. Secretary Blinken emphasized, "If there are measures that appropriately reduce existing risks, they are probably reasonable."

The U.S. Department of Defense also stressed in a statement that evaluations of North Korea's new missile are still ongoing and that there is no problem with defending the U.S. mainland. Glen VanHerck, Commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, said at a press briefing that "intelligence agencies are still evaluating North Korea's claim of a hypersonic missile test launch," and emphasized, "The U.S. mainland will be safe from the hypersonic missile that North Korea claims to have tested."

John Kirby, Department of Defense spokesperson, also stated in response to related questions during the briefing, "We assess that this incident does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, territory, or our allies, but it highlights the impact of North Korea's illegal weapons program that destabilizes the international situation, and there is no change to our defense commitments to our allies in South Korea and Japan."

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