South Korea’s Joint Staff Headquarter Speaker and U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Discuss North Korean’s Nuclear Threat

On June 28th, it is reported that a joint statement is issued by Won In-Chul, the South Korean Joint Staff Council, and John F. Kennedy Aquilino, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on North Korea’s missile and nuclear testing programs. The statement said that North Korea’s successive missile launches and nuclear tests have surpassed that of South Korea. And the programs are a threat to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

According to the Republic of South Korea’s (ROK) Joint Staff Headquarters, “The joint defense posture of the ROK-US alliance is more stable than ever. This is in response to North Korea’s continued testing of intercontinental missiles and nuclear tests. The alliance is fully prepared to deal with any provocation by North Korea.”

Since the beginning of this year, North Korea has carried out 19-armed military training exercises. These exercises include missile launches of various types such as intercontinental missiles, and multiple rocket launches. The South Korean and U.S. authorities have learned that North Korea has completed preparations for its seventh nuclear test.

South Korean Government designated Kim Seung-Kyun, former Deputy Commander of the Joint Command of South Korea and the United States, to succeed Won Hee-Yong. Kim Seung-Kyun, is a candidate for Speaker of the Joint Staff Headquarters. His inauguration as the new Speaker of the Joint Staff Headquarters could come as early as next week.