Arirang | Korea for the World, The World for Korea - Arirang.co.kr
Seoul and Washington agreed to refine South Korea's countermeasures against regional provocations on the Korean peninsula, and to jointly carry out a firm response should North Korea act out in the future.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Seoul's Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Han Min-koo and his visiting US counterpart, Admiral Mike Mullen, announced the plans for the South Korean military to oversee military operation with support from Washington and the Combined Forces Command.
The top brass from both sides harshly denounced the North's November 23rd Yeonpyong attack, urging the regime to promptly halt its aggressive acts which threaten regional stability.
[Interview : Han Min-koo, Chairman
S. Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff] "South Korea and the United States will strengthen our combined efforts to deter additional North Korean provocations and a possible war."
Admiral Mullen was also asked about South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin's recent comments on exercising self-defense and conducting an air strike in retaliation of any initial attack by Pyeongyang.
[Interview : Mike Mullen, Chairman
US Joint Chiefs of Staff] "Your readiness to defend your territory and your citizens is unmistakable and my country's commitment to helping you do that is unquestioned."
Seoul and Washington reaffirmed their strong strategic alliance, pledging to continue conducting joint military exercises as a means to effectively deter North Korea's belligerence.
Choi You-sun, Arirang News.
