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WASHINGTON -- The White Housesaid on Monday that Washington has not seen major military movements in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) despite its recent " bellicose rhetoric."
"I would note that despite the harsh rhetoric we are hearing from Pyongyang, we are not seeing changes to the North Korean military posture, such as large-scale mobilizations and positioning of forces," White House spokesman Jay Carney said at a briefing.
But he said that Washington took Pyongyang's "bellicose rhetoric" seriously.
"The actions we've taken are prudent, and they include on missile defense to enhance both the homeland and allied security and other actions like the B-2 and B-52 flights have been important steps to reassure our allies, demonstrate our resolve to the North, and reduce pressure on Seoul to take unilateral action, " he told reporters.
"We believe this will reduce the chance of miscalculation and provocation," Carney said.
The DPRK said Saturday that it had entered a "state of war" with South Korea, the official KCNA news agency reported.
The statement, issued jointly by the DPRK government, party and other organizations, warned that any military provocation near the land or sea border of the two sides would result "in a full-scale conflict and a nuclear war."
U.S. command in South Korea days ago confirmed in a statement that two B-2 Spirit bombers made a nonstop round trip from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, to an island bombing range off South Korea's west coast, demonstrating the United States' ability to "provide extended deterrence to our allies in the Asia- Pacific region" and to "conduct long-range, precision strikes quickly and at will." |
