Trump's national security adviser vows to
tackle North Korea nuclear threat: Yonhap
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[November 19, 2016]
SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S.
President-elect Donald Trump's national security adviser says North
Korea's nuclear program would be given a high priority under the new
administration, a South Korean official who held talks with him said on
Saturday.
Michael Flynn, one of Trump's closest advisers, also said he would work
to strengthen the U.S. alliance with South Korea, calling the
relationship "vital," the South's deputy presidential national security
adviser Cho Tae-yong was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.
Cho was leading a South Korean delegation to the United States to meet
with key advisers to the president-elect to discuss the two countries'
response to the North's pursuit of nuclear weapons in defiance of
international sanctions.
Cho spoke to South Korean reporters in Washington following the meeting
with Flynn, Yonhap said.
Flynn is a retired Army lieutenant general and a military intelligence
veteran of three decades who has championed Trump's promises to take a
more aggressive approach to terrorism. His appointment as national
security adviser this week does not require Senate confirmation.
The North conducted its fourth and fifth nuclear tests this year under
young leader Kim Jong Un, who has vowed to build a nuclear arsenal and
ballistic missiles to deliver them.
The U.N. Security Council has held discussions to adopt a toughened new
sanctions resolution following the North's Sept. 9 nuclear blast.
U.S. President Barack Obama has been criticized by Congressional
Republicans that his policy of "strategic patience" was a failure and
that he must make full use of sanctions authorities given to him by
Congress.
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Defense Intelligence Agency director U.S. Army Lt. General Michael
Flynn testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on
"Worldwide Threats" in Washington February 4, 2014. REUTERS/Gary
Cameron/File Photo
Trump pledged his commitment to defend South Korea under an existing
security alliance during a phone call with South Korean President
Park Geun-hye, Yonhap said last week.
Trump had suggested during the election campaign he would be willing
to withdraw U.S. military stationed in South Korea unless Seoul paid
a greater share of the cost of the deployment. There are about
28,500 U.S. troops based in South Korea in combined defense against
North Korea.
(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Kim Coghill)
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