Seoul, Oct 29 (ANI): The US and South Korea have said that their militaries would respond jointly to any future provocation by North Korea.
The warning by South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta follows two days of talks between American and North Korean representatives in Geneva, the all Street Journal reports.
Washington wants Pyongyang to show its willingness to give up its nuclear programs with concrete steps that include a freeze on enrichment.
Speaking at a joint news conference in Seoul, Kim said there is a "very high" probability of another North Korea provocation next year, and that South Korean forces would respond initially and "firmly."
"Later on, when the time comes, there will be a joint response using the available assets," Kim said, referring to U.S. and South Korean forces.
Meanwhile, Panetta said: "We have an alliance. We can provide strong and effective responses to those kinds of provocations if we work together and if we consult with each other."
Panetta's press secretary, George Little, said he would not "speculate" on what would trigger a joint military response.
"There's a full spectrum of possible responses, and those include exercises, force re-posturing and other non-kinetic responses," Little said, referring to steps that would not involve the use of force. These might include more U.S.-South Korean military exercises or additional diplomatic sanctions, officials said. (ANI)
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