In response to increased threats from North Korea, the Pentagon said that it moved a ballistic missile defense system to the Pacific. The Terminal High Altitude Defense System (Thaad), is going to be positioned near Guam.
Not long before the announcement from the Pentagon, the North Korean Army said it approved a ‘merciless’ attack against the United States that could involve a ‘cutting-edge’ nuclear strike.
“We formally inform the White House and Pentagon that the ever-escalating U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK (North Korea) and its reckless nuclear threat will be smashed by the strong will of all the united service personnel and people and cutting-edge smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear strike means of the DPRK and that the merciless operation of its revolutionary armed forces in this regard has been finally examined and ratified,” a spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army said in a statement carried by the English language service of the state news agency KCNA.
Officials in the U.S. said that by deploying the nuclear missile defense system will “strengthen our regional defense posture against the North Korean regional ballistic missile threat.”
Earlier this week, Secretary of State John Kerry said, “Let me be perfectly clear, the United States will defend and protect ourselves and our treaty ally, the Republic of Korea [South Korea].”
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that North Korea’s actions show a “real and clear danger” to the United States and its allies.