Korea-U.S. Alliance

[Anchor Lead]

U.S. Defense Secretary-nominee James Mattis spoke about the situation on the Korean Peninsula during a confirmation hearing, calling it insecure. He added there would be no plan to withdraw U.S. forces stationed in Korea. However, he said that the defense costs shouldered by other nations should be increased.

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The U.S. Senate has held a confirmation hearing for Defense Secretary nominee James Mattis. Mattis said that the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from Korea and Japan would present difficulties to America's efforts to fulfill its duty of protecting its alliance with these nations as well as its own interests. Mattis has made it clear that he has no plans to withdraw U.S. forces from Korea. He expressed hope that the U.S. will implement the mutual defense treaty while its allies acknowledge respective duties. This apparently means that while Mattis is opposed to withdrawing U.S. forces from Korea, he wants the U.S.' allies to shoulder larger defense costs. Regarding the North Korea nuclear issue, Mattis said that the security situation on the Korean Peninsula remains very unstable because of Pyongyang's continuous provocations.

[Soundbite] James Mattis(U.S. Defense Secretary Nominee)

As for ways to deal with North Korea's nuclear program, Mattis stressed close cooperation with South Korea and Japan, and called for strengthening missile defense capabilities for the U.S. mainland and allies. He added that response measures may be needed to counter Pyongyang's aggressions.