Dunford Says US Military Prepares For North Korea’s Development Capability

Dunford Says US Military Prepares For North Korea’s Development Capability
Chairman of U.S. JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, JOSEPH DUNFORD, speaking at news conference in Seoul, South Korea on Aug. 14, 2017. Reuters TV
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U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Joseph Dunford said on Monday (August 14) the U.S. military is preparing for North Korea’s continued development of its military programme.

During the news conference after the meeting with South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in, he added that China’s cooperation is needed to enforce diplomatic and economic sanctions on NorthKorea for denuclearization.

South Korea’s presidential office spokesman Park Su-hyun also quoted Dunford as saying that the U.S. military options being prepared against North Korea would be for when diplomatic and economic sanctions failed.

Tension has increased in recent months over concern that North Korea is close to achieving its goal of putting the mainland United States within range of a nuclear weapon. 

North Korea and the United States exchanged threats of military action last week, with Pyongyang saying it will develop a plan to strike the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam.

The local government of this tiny U.S. Pacific island issued preparation guidance to its 163,000 people on Friday on how best to hide and deal with radiation after threats by Pyongyang to strikeGuam, or test its missiles in its surrounding waters.

Local residents display a Guam flag during a peace rally at Chief Quipuha Park, on the island of Guam, a U.S. Pacific Territory, August 14, 2017. (REUTERS/Erik De Castro)
Local residents display a Guam flag during a peace rally at Chief Quipuha Park, on the island of Guam, a U.S. Pacific Territory, August 14, 2017. REUTERS/Erik De Castro