South Korea rejects Trump nominee Hegseth’s ‘nuclear power’ label for North Korea
Seoul says North Korea ‘can never be recognised as a nuclear-armed state’ under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
South Korea on Wednesday said Pyongyang could “never be recognised” as a nuclear power, after US defence secretary nominee Pete Hegseth used the term to emphasise the security threat posed by the reclusive nation during a Senate confirmation hearing.
US president-elect Donald Trump picked the former Fox News host and decorated veteran to head the Pentagon in November.
Hegseth, who faces allegations of misconduct and sexual assault, said North Korea’s expanded nuclear stockpile and enhanced rocket launch systems were of “particular concern” as the country was close to bases housing American troops in the region.
“The DPRK’s status as a nuclear power, its intense focus on increasing the range of missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads, and its growing cyber capabilities all pose a threat to stability on the Korean peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific region, and globally,” he said, using the acronym for North Korea’s formal name – the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“Improving missile defence systems, especially for the homeland, will be important to countering the DPRK threat, in addition to efforts to stem the growth of its nuclear and missile arsenals.”
Seoul, however, disagreed with Hegseth’s characterisation.
