South Korea has reportedly flexed its military muscles by conducting live-fire exercises after Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test.
The training exercises, led by South Korea’s Army and Air Force, simulated a strike against its neighbor with F-15K fighter jets hitting targets as well as surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, CNN reported, citing a statement from the country’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Defense Secretary James Mattis responded by warning Pyongyang it would be met with a “massive military response” if it threatened the U.S. or its allies.
“Any threat to the United States or its territories including Guam or our allies will be met with a massive military response,” Mattis said in a statement outside of the White House, following a meeting with President Trump.
“Kim Jong Un should take heed the United Nations Security Council’s unified voice. All members unanimously agreed on the threat North Korea poses. And they remain unanimous in their commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Because we are not looking to the total annihilation of a country, namely, North Korea,” Mattis said.
President Trump pledged last month that North Korea would face “fire and fury” if it continued to threaten the U.S. and its allies.
After North Korea launched an ICBM over Japanese airspace last week, Trump said reasoning with the Pyongyang is no longer a viable solution.