U.S. and Allies Will Respond Immediately If North Korea Conducts Another Nuclear Test

On June 13th, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged that the U.S. and its allies will respond immediately if North Korea conducts another nuclear test.
Antony Blinken told reporters in Washington after meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin that “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.”
“And we are prepared to make both short and longer-term adjustments to our military posture, as appropriate, He added
Foreign Minister Park Jin also said the South Korean government is willing to negotiate with North Korea “without preconditions.” Park said: ” 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, then I think that it will only strengthen our deterrence and also international sanctions.”
Previously, the U.S. called for tougher sanctions against North Korea in the UN Security Council, but Russia and China vetoed the UN resolution. Then, on May 27th, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed a series of related sanctions on North Korea’s missile launch, targeting one individual and three entities, including two Russian banks and one North Korean company.