President Barack Obama today declared that North Korea’s nuclear program poses “a grave threat to peace and security of Asia and to the world,” accusing the nation of violating international law in its development of nuclear weapons. Obama also cited “a pattern in the past where North Korea behaves in a belligerent fashion, and if it waits long enough is then rewarded with foodstuffs,” insisting “we are going to break that pattern.”
The comments came during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak in which, as expected, Obama assured Lee that South Korea remains under the American nuclear umbrella. This would obligate the US to threat a nuclear attack on South Korea as an attack on American soil, and respond accordingly. Lee said the pledge “has given the South Korean people a greater sense of security.”
During the meeting, Lee also declared that his nation would never allow North Korea to possess nuclear weapons. The comment echoed similar statements from US officials in recent weeks, and is perplexing insomuch as North Korea already possesses nuclear weapons.