Panetta: US will step up vigilance against N.Korea

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has indicated that the United States will step up its collaboration with South Korea to combat possible provocation by North Korea.

Panetta met reporters on Thursday on his first visit to South Korea since assuming his current post.

Regarding this week's direct talks between the United States and North Korea in Geneva, Switzerland over the North's nuclear program, Panetta said he hopes that the negotiations will make progress.

But Panetta expressed concern that North Korea is deliberately alternating between periods of modest accommodation with the West and episodes of violent aggression.
He indicated that the North may enter a phase where it uses provocation if another round of talks between the US and North Korea fails.

The defense secretary also referred to China's growing military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. He said that the region's peace and security can be maintained if the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asian nations boost their cooperation.

Friday, October 28, 2011 06:47 +0900 (JST)