<Anchor>
The US State Department predicted that North Korea may launch additional provocations on the occasion of the Day of the Sun.
They said they could launch an intercontinental ballistic missile or conduct a nuclear test.
First news, Correspondent Kim Soo-hyung reports from Washington.
<Reporter>
US State Department special representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, urged restraint, saying that North Korea may launch an additional ICBM or conduct a nuclear test.
The coming 15th is the Day of the Sun, which is the 110th anniversary of Kim Il-sung's birthday in North Korea.
[Sung Kim / US State Department Special Representative for North Korea (Telephone Briefing): Regarding the provocative action that North Korea may take on the upcoming Sun Day, I think it could be another missile launch or a nuclear test.
We hope that doesn't happen, but we are prepared.]
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, speaking before Congress, stressed the need to demonstrate a credible deterrence against North Korean provocations.
North Korea cannot be allowed to continue its armed provocations without payment.
[Wendy Sherman/Deputy Secretary of State (Congress Hearing): We cannot allow North Korea to continue these provocations without payment.
(North Korea's provocations) will show that we have a credible deterrent against North Korean aggression.]
He explained that he is having a lot of discussion with the delegation of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's Korea-U.S. policy consultation on how to respond to the North Korean issue.
Deputy Secretary Sherman did not mention what a reliable deterrent would be, but attention is focused on that statement as South Korea and the US are even discussing the deployment of strategic assets.