Defence Secretary Jim Mattis says the Pentagon supports Rex Tillerson on North Korea policy
Defence Secretary Jim Mattis says the Pentagon supports Rex Tillerson on North Korea policy
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has played down a split between Donald Trump and Rex Tillerson on North Korea
US Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis (left) and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (R). Picture: AFPSource:AFP
PENTAGON chief Jim Mattis said his department “supports fully” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s effort to find a diplomatic solution to the North Korea nuclear stand-off.
US Defence Secretary Mattis was speaking two days after US President Donald Trump appeared to undermine his top diplomat by saying he was “wasting his time” by talking to Kim Jong-un’s regime.
State Department officials insist Mr Trump was not criticising Sec. Tillerson, but pressuring Kim Jong-un’s regime to agree to discuss its disarmament while a diplomatic option remains on the table.
Mr Mattis, in testimony to the House Armed Services Committee, said the Pentagon stands four square behind the strategy — and singled out Sec. Tillerson for support.
“The international community ... is focused on the destabilising threat posed by North Korea and Kim Jong-un’s relentless pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities,” he said.
“The Defence Department supports fully Secretary Tillerson’s efforts to find a diplomatic solution but remains focused on defence of the United States and our allies.”
Sec. Tillerson has explained the strategy as one of using United Nations and US sanctions and diplomatic pressure to convince Kim of his isolation and force him to negotiate nuclear disarmament.
US officials insist publicly that they have military options to counter the threat from Pyongyang if this fails, but admit privately that they are risky.
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