MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Speaking during a televised speech in Seoul, Hwang said that Seoul, relying on Washington's support, "will strongly punish any provocations and threats from North Korea."
Hwang pledged to convince Pyongyang its nuclear stockpile was useless by deploying US anti-ballistic missiles, called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), to the peninsula.
US and South Korean militaries launched two-month war games earlier in the day, codenamed Foal Eagle. The Korean defense minister said the annual exercise would be on par with last year’s historic event.
In turn, US Defense James Mattis reassured Seoul of Pentagon’s steadfast commitment to the security of its allies, saying any use of nuclear weapons against South Korea would be met with an effective response.
