Washington:
US Defense Minister Mark Osho said Wednesday that North Korea's nuclear and missile programs pose a global threat, after Pyongyang unveiled unseen intercontinental ballistic missiles at a prewar military parade.
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The presence of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during a weekend parade in North Korea fascinated many Western analysts.
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But officials in South Korea were far more concerned with the performance of the new Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and the faster, maneuvering short-range missiles that would be ideal for striking targets in the south.
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Speaking before the start of a meeting with South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook at the Pentagon, Arizona said: "We agree that North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs remain a serious threat to the region and the world's security and stability Huh."
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"The United States is committed to protecting the Republic of Korea," Ariz said.
He said, however, that South Korea and the United States would have to find a more equitable way of sharing defense costs so that it would not "fall disproportionately on American taxpayers."
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US President Donald Trump, who postponed his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has reiterated that Seoul should pay the bulk of the cost of US military forces deployed in the South.