I can’t remember anytime that USFK has hosted two combatant commanders as well as the commander of an extremely important Pentagon organization like the Missile Defense Agency:
Three top U.S. military commanders plan to issue a strong warning message to North Korea in a rare joint press availability here later Tuesday, officials said.
Pacific Command chief Adm. Harry Harris, Strategic Command head Gen. John Hyten and Missile Defense Agency Director Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves are scheduled to hold a press conference at a local U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) base.
It’s quite unusual for the U.S. commanding generals serving abroad to gather in South Korea and release public statements together.
It apparently reflects Washington’s alertness against North Korea’s rapid development of nuclear bombs and missiles.
In July, the North successfully test-launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
The U.S. intelligence community also believes the secretive communist nation has made significant progress in miniaturizing nuclear warheads.
The U.S. commanders are expected to stressed that a military option will be on the table as the last means to use in case of an eventual failure in efforts to resolve the North Korea issue via diplomacy, a defense source said. [Yonhap]
Anyone else remember anytime this many senior leaders have visited South Korea together?
