Secretary of State John Kerry has been in “constant contact with our allies and partners in the region” since North Korea claimed to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb Tuesday, spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday.
Kerry has spoken with South Korea’s foreign minister already, and will speak with his Japanese counterpart Wednesday night, and his Chinese counterpart soon thereafter, Kirby said.
Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken is heading to the region next week, Kirby confirmed.
Additionally, Kerry was at the White House Wednesday afternoon for a previously scheduled meeting with President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in which North Korea’s claims and how to respond will undoubtedly be a topic.
The Obama administration is disputing that North Korea successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. But officials agree it was a nuclear test, and Kerry condemned the move as provocative and, along with Japan, called for an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting this morning.
“The United States and nations around the world have unequivocally condemned North Korea’s latest nuclear test,” Kerry said in a statement. “This highly provocative act poses a grave threat to international peace and security and blatantly violates multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions.”
Kerry reiterated that regardless what the reality behind Tuesday’s nuclear test was, the U.S. will never accept North Korea as a recognized nuclear power.
“We do not and will not accept North Korea as a nuclear armed state, and actions such as this latest test only strengthen our resolve,” he stated.
Kirby said doing so is not tantamount to avoiding reality but reflective of the “tough choices” nations must make in international relations.
“You know, at this level of foreign policy, you know, you have to make choices,” Kirby said. “And you don’t have to accept everything … at face value.”
