JAKARTA/ SEOUL: Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised on Friday the United States would defend allies from North Korean “aggression”, with Japan and South Korea joining a call to punish Pyongyang for its latest intercontinental ballistic missile test.

The top US diplomat met jointly with the South Korean and Japanese foreign ministers on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian meeting in Jakarta, with all three condemning what Blinken called “provocations” from Pyongyang.

“We are joined resolutely in a common defence and making sure that we are doing everything possible to deter and defend against any aggression,” Blinken said.

A joint statement released later said that US commitments to defend the two treaty-bound allies “are ironclad and backed by the full range of capabilities, including nuclear”.

Kim Jong Un’s sister warns of ‘overwhelming nuclear deterrence’

Washington, Seoul and Tokyo also promised to press for existing UN sanctions against the North — formally known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) — to be “fully implemented”.

“Furthermore, the three countries will continue to work closely with the international community to block the DPRK’s illicit revenue generation through overseas workers and malicious cyber activities” that fund its weapons programmes, the statement said.

‘Hostile policy’

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned on Friday of “overwhelming nuclear deterrence” unless the United States drops what she called its “hostile policy” against Pyongyang, state media reported.

Kim Yo Jong also defended North Korea’s latest intercontinental ballistic missile launch as an act of self-defence.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2023