U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed, on Monday, that the US would respond swiftly with its allies if North Korea conducted a nuclear test but insisted dialogue was still an option.
"We're in very close touch with our close allies and partners starting with the Republic of Korea -- also with Japan and others -- to be able to respond quickly should the North Koreans proceed with such a test," Blinken told reporters."And we are prepared to make both short- and longer-term adjustments to our military posture as appropriate."
However, he stressed that Washington has "no hostile intent toward the DPRK," the formal name of the North, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"So we'll continue to reach out to the DPRK. We're committed to pursuing a diplomatic approach," Blinken said.
On his part, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin noted: "I think that North Korea has now finished the preparation for another nuclear test and I think only political decision has to be made."
"If North Korea ventures into another nuclear test I think that it will only strengthen our deterrence and also international sanctions," Park added.
On Saturday, North Korea named a top nuclear negotiator, Choe Son Hui, as the nation’s first female foreign minister amid tension on the Korean Peninsula as the North aggressively ramps up its weapons testing program in defiance of United Nations sanctions.
The female diplomat was appointed at a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea from June 8-10, overseen by North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, according to KCNA.
Follow the latest news on Google News
