N Korea's nuclear tests represent real threat to US: Panetta
World 03:48
New York, February 14, 2013: US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday said that the combination of a recent missile test combined with nuclear explosions by North Korea represents a real threat to America."There is no question that North Korea constitutes a threat to the United States, to regional stability and to global security. The combination of a recent missile test combined with what apparently was this nuclear test, we believe, represents a real threat to the United States of America," Panetta told reporters.
"Make no mistake: The US military will take all necessary steps to meet our security commitments to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and to our regional allies," he told Pentagon reporters.
Panetta said the actions of the North Korea regime are undermining regional security.
"They've conducted tests in the past. I think the combination of their continuing pursuit of not only a nuclear weapon but their continuing pursuit of developing intercontinental ballistic missile capability represents a real threat to the United States. They continue to be engaged in provocative behavior. They are isolating themselves from the rest of the world," he said.
"Russia, China almost the whole world has condemned what they have done. And as a result of that, it should be of great concern to the international community that they are continuing to develop their capabilities to threaten the security not only of South Korea but of the rest of the world. And for that reason, I think that we have to take steps to make very clear to them that that kind of behavior is unacceptable," said the Defense Secretary.
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