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The US said it was in close consultation with South Korea about North Korea's drone invasion.

He also reaffirmed his defense commitments, saying that the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea from the North Korean threat is ironclad.



Seung-mo Nam is a correspondent in Washington.



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Although there was no official briefing at the government level, such as the White House and the State Department due to the Christmas holiday, the US response to North Korea's provocation was resolute.



A spokesman for the National Security Council at the White House responded to an e-mail inquiry asking for the US government's position on the North Korean drone invasion, saying, "We are aware of reports that North Korean drones have flown across the Military Demarcation Line, and we are closely discussing the nature of this drone invasion with South Korea." It is.



However, it did not mention the exact details of when and in what format the consultations are taking place.



"The United States recognizes the need for South Korea to protect its territory," he said. "The United States' commitment to the defense of Korea remains ironclad."



The US State Department also reaffirmed its defense commitment to the North Korean threat in a similar response.



Earlier, on the 23rd, the National Defense Authorization Act, which contained the US security and defense budget for next year, signed by President Biden, included a promise to provide extended deterrence to Korea using all US defense capabilities in accordance with the Korea-US Mutual Defense Treaty.



It also contained information that the size of the USFK stationed in Korea would be maintained at about 28,500 at the current level.



As North Korea continues to launch ballistic missiles and diversify provocations, such as invading unmanned aerial vehicles, attention is focused on how South Korea and the United States will respond accordingly.



(Video coverage: Park Eun-ha, video editing: Park Jeong-sam)