Senior US official: North Korea may conduct nuclear test during Harris' visit to Japan and South Korea

Senior US official: North Korea may conduct nuclear test during Harris' visit to Japan and South Korea

A senior U.S. official said North Korea could conduct a nuclear test during U.S. Visits by Vice President Kamala Harris to South Korea and Japan.

North Korea may be conducting a nuclear test during Harris' visit, as Pyongyang prepares for such a test," South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Friday, citing a senior U.S. official (not named).

Senior US official :

 North Korea may conduct nuclear test during Harris' visit to Japan and South Korea

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will arrive in South Korea on Thursday to meet with her president, Yun Suk Yol, the official told a telephone briefing.

The United States Vice President is scheduled to visit Japan for a four-day visit from Monday, led by a presidential delegation, to attend the funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

US vows to use nuclear capability to deter North Korea in South Korea

The United States pledged to south Korea to use the full range of American military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, in north Korea's "expanded deterrence".

A statement read :

The United States reaffirmed its indissoluble and unwavering commitment to deploy the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, conventional, missile defence and other advanced non-nuclear capabilities, to provide enhanced deterrence for the Republic of Korea (South)."

This followed a regular meeting of the bilateral group on the expanded deterrence strategy and consultations.

The United States is committed to strengthening coordination with the Republic of Korea (South) to continue to deploy and prepare strategic assets in the region in a timely and effective manner to deter and respond to the DPRK (North) and strengthen regional security," the statement added.

The parties referred to the joint training of 5G F-35A fighters, the flight of B-52 strategic bombers and the anticipated deployment of the aircraft carrier "Ronald Reagan" and its strike group in the region.

The two States also warned North Korea against attempts to test nuclear weapons.

The statement stressed :

The United States and the Republic of Korea have confirmed that the nuclear test of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will receive a strong and decisive response. Both countries coordinate closely in detail and are prepared for all possible scenarios. "