US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Thursday that a nuclear attack against the United States or any of its allies would bring about the end of the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Austin said - during a joint press conference with his South Korean counterpart Lee Jong Sob at the Pentagon - that North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile "is illegal and destabilizing," attacking at the same time Pyongyang's intention to launch other missiles.
Washington and Seoul announced the extension of their largest-ever joint air exercises, due to "recent provocations" from North Korea.
"I and my South Korean counterpart have decided to extend the Vigilance Storm exercise to enhance our preparedness," Austin said. "Our alliance is solid, and we will continue to work closely together to develop options to protect the United States and our allies in the region."
Responses to odds
For his part, South Korean Defense Minister said that his country will discuss with the United States responses to the possibility of North Korea using nuclear weapons, he said.
According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea, three projectiles (two short-range missiles and an intercontinental ballistic missile) were launched Thursday morning from the north towards the Sea of Japan.
South Korea's military said the ICBM launch "supposedly ended in failure".
During the joint press conference, the US Secretary of State touched on the war in Ukraine, and said that "the Ukrainians are making efforts to restore their lands, and they have the ability to do so and to restore Kherson from Russia."
In another context, the US Defense Department said that Secretary Austin stressed, in a call with his Israeli counterpart, Benny Gantz, the importance of calming the security situation in the West Bank.