US diplomat: Trump’s support for Seoul sub plan shows cooperation against regional threats

WASHINGTON — A U.S. diplomat on Wednesday described U.S. President Donald Trump's support for South Korea to build nuclear-powered submarines as a "clear" example of cooperation to enhance the allies' collective capabilities to counter "regional" threats. Jonathan Fritz, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, made the remarks during a forum amid speculation that Trump's backing for Seoul's drive to secure the strategic submarines might be intended to help counter threats from an assertive China. Stressing that the fundamentals of the Seoul-Washington alliance are "stronger than ever," the diplomat also said that the two countries are in "complete alignment" on North Korea, and reaffirmed the United States' "ironclad" deterrence commitment to South Korea. "President Trump also expressed U.S. support for the ROK to build nuclear-powered, conventionally-armed submarines, working together with us to identify and address requirements and challenges," he said during the forum hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the KoreWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times