Defence chiefs from the US and South Korea on Thursday said they would extend joint military exercises following a string of missile launches by North Korea.
US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and South Korea's Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup met in Washington to discuss the “grave security challenge” posed by North Korea.
“At this time of heightened tension, our alliance is ironclad,” Mr Austin said.
North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Thursday, shortly after it launched a record-breaking barrage of 23 missiles in a single day.
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Air raid sirens sounded across South Korea as North Korea tested its missile systems on Wednesday, including one that fell close to South Korean waters. Here, travellers at a railway station in Seoul watch a news broadcast. AFP -
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech at the Central Academy of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang on October 18. AFP -
In Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters about North Korea's ballistic missile test on Wednesday. Reuters -
South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol, centre, attends a meeting of the National Security Council in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday. AP -
Travellers at Seoul Railway Station watch a TV news report on North Korea's missile tests. AP -
A soldier at Seoul Railway Station watches a TV news report about North Korea's missile tests. EPA -
Television news in South Korea reports news of North Korea's missile tests. On Wednesday, Seoul told residents on the island of Ulleungdo off its east coast to evacuate to bunkers after North Korea fired three short range ballistic missiles. AFP -
At a railway station in Seoul on Wednesday, a man watches a television broadcast showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test. AFP
Concerns are growing that an ICBM could reach western countries, including the US, posing a grave threat if North Korea were to make it nuclear capable.
Mr Austin called the launches “illegal and destabilising”.
The US has 28,500 troops based in South Korea and the allies frequently train together.
The defence chiefs said the coming “Violent Storm” military drills would be extended to include an exercise in which Pyongyang has a nuclear weapon.
Still, the two defence ministers said that they did not feel the US should deploy nuclear devices to the Korean peninsula in response to Pyongyang's latest moves.
Mr Austin condemned the North's “irresponsible and reckless activities” but also hoped for “serious dialogue”.
