Panetta concerned about North Korean threat
- 11 years ago
North Korea announces that it will carry out more rocket launches and a nuclear test targeting the United States.
It's a move raising concerns for Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY LEON PANETTA, SAYING:
"We are very concerned with North Korea's continuing provocative behavior
North Korea is not believed to have the technology to deliver a nuclear warhead capable of hitting the United States. However its December launch showed it had the capacity to deliver a rocket that could potentially put San Francisco in range.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY LEON PANETTA, SAYING:
"The United States is--, we are fully prepared, we remain prepared to deal with any kind of provocations from the North Koreans. But I hope in the end that they determine that it is better to make a choice to become part of the international family."
North Korea's announcement came after the U.N. agreed to a U.S.-backed resolution to censure and sanction North Korea for its rocket launch in December that breached U.N. rules.
It's a move raising concerns for Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY LEON PANETTA, SAYING:
"We are very concerned with North Korea's continuing provocative behavior
North Korea is not believed to have the technology to deliver a nuclear warhead capable of hitting the United States. However its December launch showed it had the capacity to deliver a rocket that could potentially put San Francisco in range.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY LEON PANETTA, SAYING:
"The United States is--, we are fully prepared, we remain prepared to deal with any kind of provocations from the North Koreans. But I hope in the end that they determine that it is better to make a choice to become part of the international family."
North Korea's announcement came after the U.N. agreed to a U.S.-backed resolution to censure and sanction North Korea for its rocket launch in December that breached U.N. rules.