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Trump, Abe possibly discussed U.S. military action in Korea

Trump, Abe possibly discussed U.S. military action in Korea

Posted November. 08, 2017 07:58,   

Updated November. 08, 2017 08:48

한국어

U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly discussed U.S. military action in the event of emergency on the Korean Peninsula with his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, according to the reports of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun Tuesday citing diplomacy sources. The two leaders avoided mentioning possible military action towards North Korea at the press conference, which was held after the bilateral summit on Monday.

“At a series of meetings on Sunday and Monday, Trump and Abe discussed U.S. military action in the event of emergency on the Korean Peninsula which may be possibly caused by Pyongyang’s provocations,” the newspaper reported. “Only a few within the Japanese government are aware of this, and the details of discussion have not been disclosed.” This hints to the possibility that such discussion took place not at an official meeting with a large attendance but at an unofficial contact only a few were involved. “The government will not disclose any of discussion on possible U.S. military action even if such discussion happens during the meeting,” a Japanese government official reportedly told reporters before the bilateral meeting.

“It would be irresponsible not to talk about the potential for military efforts. That topic must be on the agenda (of the summit),” U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said in an interview last Friday ahead of Trump’s Asia tour.

“The evacuation of Japanese citizens in South Korea in case of emergency on the Korean Peninsula was not discussed,” the Japanese government said after the summit, while not making public whether the two leaders discussed general military action towards North Korea during their summit. The Japanese newspaper cited a high-level government official as saying, “Japan and the United States are discussing in secret specific measures to evacuate Japanese people in South Korea in times of emergency.”



Won-Jae Jang peacechaos@donga.com