U.S. reaffirms nuclear umbrella commitment to South Korea

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Friday met with South Korean Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ungon, and reaffirmed American nuclear umbrella commitment to South Korea.

"The United States reaffirms its firm commitment to the Republic of Korea, including continuation of the extended deterrents offered by the U.S. nuclear umbrella, consistent with the mutual defense treaty," Rumsfeld said at a news conference with Yoon.

The U.S. commitment "is as solid today as it was when it was first stated" in 1978 under a joint military alliance, Rumsfeld said.

Speaking to reporters, Yoon said that a joint communique due to be issued later Friday could comprise more details of the U.S. nuclear umbrella pledge.

"I hope that when the joint statement comes out eventually it' ll have different language from years past," Yoon said.

The meeting between U.S. and South Korean defense ministers occurred at a time when the Korean peninsula is in tense situation after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had an underground nuclear test on Oct. 9.

Source: Xinhua