美国国防部长马蒂斯说，美国绝不会接受一个拥有核武器的朝鲜。
马蒂斯星期六在首尔说，朝鲜加速开发核武器和导弹，是在破坏而不是加强这个孤立于世的国家的安全。
马蒂斯警告朝鲜说，它的军力远不敌美国和韩国军事联盟的力量。
马蒂斯说：“无需置疑，任何对美国或美国盟友的攻击都将被打败。朝鲜如果使用核武器，将会受到摧枯拉朽的强大军事反应。”
马蒂斯重申了他在出访亚洲一周来一直在说的话，以外交手段应对朝鲜是首选。
马蒂斯和美军参联会主席邓福德将军星期六在韩国与国防官员进行年度磋商。这是韩国总统文在寅和美国总统川普上任以来第一次美韩安全磋商。
马蒂斯星期五和韩国总统文在寅会面，并在韩国和朝鲜之间的板门店停战村向美国和韩国的军队讲话。
马蒂斯国防部长的亚洲之行还包括泰国和菲律宾。
The U.S. defense secretary says the U.S. will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea.
Jim Mattis said Saturday in Seoul that the North’s aggressive nuclear and missile development programs are undermining the isolated nation’s security instead of securing it.
Mattis warned the North that its military is no match for the military might of the U.S. and South Korea alliance.
“Make no mistake,” Mattis said, “any attack on the United States or our allies will be defeated and any use of nuclear weapons by the North will be met with a massive military response that is effective and overwhelming.”
The secretary said once again as he has said all week on his Asian trip that diplomacy is the preferred way of dealing with North Korea.
Mattis and General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, held annual consultations with South Korean defense officials Saturday, marking the first time the Security Consultative Meeting has been held since the inauguration of South Korea President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump.
On Friday, Mattis met with President Moon and spoke to U.S. and South Korean troops at the Panmunjom “truce village” where South Korea meets North Korea.
The secretary’s Asian trip has included stops in Thailand and the Philippines.