DOGS OF WAR: Attack dogs pounce on an effigy of South Korean
Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin as US Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin
Dempsey countersmoves by North dictator Kim Jong Un (Reuters)
BAGRAM, Afghanistan — The Pentagon has bolstered its missile defenses and taken other steps because it “can’t take the chance” that North Korea won’t soon engage in military action, the top US military officer said yesterday.
Heightened tensions with North Korea under leader Kim Jong Un led the United States to postpone congressional testimony by the chief US commander in South Korea and delay an intercontinental ballistic missile test from California.
After weeks of war threats and other efforts to punish South Korea and the United States for joint military drills, North Korea has told other nations that it will be unable to guarantee diplomats’ safety in the North’s capital beginning Wednesday.
Gen. Martin Dempsey, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman who just wrapped up a visit to Afghanistan, was asked in an Associated Press interview whether he foresees North Korea taking military action soon.
“No, but I can’t take the chance that it won’t,” he said, explaining why the Pentagon has strengthened missile defenses and made other decisions to combat the potential threat.
Secretary of State John Kerry is expected in Asia on Friday to reaffirm the Obama administration’s commitment to its partners in the region, with stops in South Korea, China and Japan.
Dempsey said the United States has been preparing for further provocations or action, “considering the risk that they may choose to do something” on one of two nationally important anniversaries in April — the birth of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung and the creation of the North Korean army.
Gen. James Thurman, the commander of the 28,000 American troops in South Korea, will stay in Seoul as “a prudent measure” rather than travel to Washington to appear this week before congressional committees, Army Col. Amy Hannah said in an e-mail yesterday
Thurman has asked the Senate Armed Services Committee, the House Armed Services Committee and the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense to excuse his absence until he can testify at a later date.
Dempsey said he had consulted with Thurman about the rising tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Dempsey said both Thurman and South Korea’s own Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Gen. Jung Seung-jo, decided to remain in Seoul rather than come to Washington. The Korean general had planned to meet with Dempsey in mid-April for regular talks.
Instead of meeting in person, they will consult together by video conference, Dempsey said.
The Pentagon has postponed an intercontinental ballistic missile test that was set for the coming week at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, a senior defense official told the AP on Saturday.
The official said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel decided on Friday to put off the long-planned Minuteman 3 test until April because of concerns the launch could be misinterpreted and exacerbate the Korean crisis.
North Korea’s military said this past week that it was authorized to attack the United States using “smaller, lighter and diversified” nuclear weapons.
North Korea also conducted a nuclear test in February and in December launched a long-range rocket that might be able to hit the continental United States.