Congressman Turner, Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, issued the below statement following claims by the government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that it has successfully detonated a thermonuclear device.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms any nuclear test allegedly conducted by the government of North Korea. If reports prove accurate, this most recent test poses a direct threat to the United States, NATO, and our many partner nations in the region. North Korea’s continued development of nuclear weapons and advanced delivery capabilities must be met with decisive action and condemnation by the entire international community. North Korea is a nuclear proliferator and has chosen a dangerous course of steady escalation.”
“We cannot afford to be complacent or naive towards nuclear proliferators like North Korea. This event also reminds us of the fundamental importance of nuclear deterrence to our countries and citizens’ security. I sincerely hope that NATO’s Summit in Warsaw in July will reaffirm unambiguously that in today’s dangerous environment, nuclear deterrence remains the ultimate and essential guarantee of Allies’ security.”
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