Politics
17:33, 30-Dec-2017
US says diplomats still lead on Korean Peninsula issue
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US Defense Secretary James Mattis called for "a diplomatically led effort" in easing the escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula, according a press release from the Pentagon.
"We still have the diplomats in the lead," the Pentagon chief said.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated gradually this year, after a series of ballistic missile tests and a nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
When asked if the United States would consider postponing a joint exercise with the Republic of Korea (ROK) scheduled for February, Mattis shunned a direct answer by saying a rescheduling of the exercise will be subject to many reasons, including ship availability and political considerations.
"I don't consider rescheduling to be pausing them," Mattis added.
Earlier this month, ROK President Moon Jae-in told US broadcaster NBC that the country is considering delaying joint military drills with the US until after the 2018 Winter Olympics, depending on what the DPRK does in the run-up to the games.
The ROK will host the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang from Feb. 9 to 25 next year.
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