NATO commander expresses concern for 'N. Korea 3 years later'

NATO commander expresses concern for 'N. Korea 3 years later'. August. 03, 2016 07:59. by 윤상호군사전문기자 ysh1005@donga.com.

Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and United States European Command (EUCOM), expressed his concern that North Korea could have real nuclear and ballistic missile capacity in three to four years. This seems to imply that the Stalinist country's nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities could reach the level of posing actual threats against South Korea and the U.S. by 2020.

“Kim Jong Un is constantly carrying out tests on ballistic missiles including the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) and resolving issues in the course of development,” Scaparrotti said during the Aspen Security Forum held in Colorado on last Friday. "I am very concerned about what he has today, but I am more concerned about what he will have in three or four years.”

　

He predicted that North Korea might develop proven capacities of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and SLBM, as well as more various types of nuclear devices. Gen. Scaparrotti is now serving as the NATO commander position after retiring from the United States Forces Korea, which he took command from October 2013 to April this year.