Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook provided the
following statement:
Today, Jan. 6, U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and
Republic of Korea
(ROK) Minister of National Defense Han Min-koo spoke by
phone to discuss
potential alliance responses to the recent apparent North
Korean nuclear
test. Secretary
Carter and Minister Han agreed that any such test would be
an unacceptable and irresponsible provocation and is both
a flagrant
violation of international law and a threat to the peace
and stability of
the Korean peninsula and the entire Asia-Pacific region.
Secretary Carter reaffirmed the ironclad commitment of
the United States to
the defense of the ROK, and that this commitment includes
all aspects of the
United States' extended deterrence. Minister Han
emphasized the strength of
the U.S.-ROK alliance and its vital role in assuring
peace and stability on
the Korean Peninsula and across the Asia-Pacific. Carter
and Han agreed that
North Korea's provocations should have consequences.
The secretary and minister reaffirmed that the
international community does
not and will not accept North Korea as a nuclear state,
and pledged that
both sides would coordinate appropriate alliance
responses to these
provocations. They also agreed to the importance of close
coordination with
the international community and regional partners in
condemning this action.
Prior to Secretary Carter's call with the minister, he
received a
situational update from Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commander, U.S. Forces
Korea.