U.S. cautious about possible nuclear test by N. Korea in connection to Biden’s trip to Japan, S. Korea
17:05 JST, May 19, 2022
WASHINGTON — There is a “genuine possibility” that North Korea will take provocative actions, including a nuclear test, ahead of or during U.S. President Joe Biden’s upcoming visits to Japan and South Korea, according to U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan.
“Our intelligence does reflect the genuine possibility that there will be either further missile tests, including a long-range missile test or a nuclear test or, frankly, both in the days leading into, on, or after the president’s trip to the region,” Sullivan said at a press conference on Wednesday. “We are coordinating closely with our allies in both Korea and Japan on this.”
Biden is scheduled to visit Japan and South Korea on May 20-24. North Korea’s provocations are likely to be high on the agenda in his summits with the Japanese and South Korean leaders.
“We are prepared, obviously, to make both short- and longer-term adjustments to our military posture as necessary to ensure that we are providing both defense and deterrence to our allies in the region and that we’re responding to any North Korean provocation,” Sullivan said, expressing Washington’s willingness to flexibly consider the deployment of U.S. forces depending on North Korea’s actions.
Biden’s summits with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts might include in-depth discussions on such matters.
Biden plans to announce the establishment of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) in Tokyo. Sullivan said at the press conference that a meeting with participating countries will be held to mark the launch of the new economic initiative.
Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will participate in person, while the leaders of countries in Southeast and Northeast Asia and other nations will attend virtually.
The inaugural meeting was initially expected to be a ministerial-level affair but it was upgraded to a summit that will include the leaders of participating countries.
Japan and South Korea have indicated their intention to participate in the IPEF, which aims to reshape the economic order in the region, with China in mind. Other countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia, are also expected to join the initiative.
On May 24, Biden will attend a Quad summit in Japan, which will bring together the leaders of Japan, the United States, Australia and India.
Sullivan said Biden’s trip will send a “powerful” message to the world “about what American leadership, working flanked by allies and like-minded partners, can deliver for people everywhere.”
“We think that message will be heard everywhere. We think it will be heard in Beijing,” he said.
"Politics" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Promotes Revised NISA Investment Program to Young People; Kishida Focusing on Moving Money From Savings to Investment in a Safe Environment
-
Japan, U.S. to Join Forces on AI, Semiconductors; Seek to Counter China’s ‘Military-Civil Fusion’
-
Japan, U.S. to Work Together for Expanding Marine Product Supply Chains; Countering China’s Economic Coercion
-
84% of People Nationwide Say They Feel Japan’s National Security Is Under Threat
-
“High Probability” 2 MSDF Patrol Helicopters Collided near Torishima Island; 1 Dead, 7 Others Onboard Missing (Update 2)
JN ACCESS RANKING
- M6.0 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Tohoku Region; Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi Prefectures Observe 4 on Japanese Scale With No Risk of Tsunami
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- U.S. 7th Fleet officer Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Sushi, Sashimi, Chicken at Kanagawa Shopping Mall; Suspect Caught Mid-Meal
- UNRWA Director Describes Catastrophic Destruction in Gaza; Says Relief Trucks Robbed, ‘People’s Hearts Destroyed’