The commander of U.S. and South Korean troops told Congress Wednesday that North Korea’s conventional forces remain a serious threat and it does not appear leader Kim Jong Un is taking any significant steps to give up his nuclear arsenal.
“Their activity that we have observed is inconsistent with denuclearization,” Army Gen. Robert Abrams testified before the House Armed Services Committee.
Abrams said that while tensions on the peninsula have lessened since North Korea ended provocative missile and nuclear tests, there has been “little to no verifiable change” in the country’s military capabilities.
“North Korea’s conventional and asymmetric military capabilities along with their continued development of advanced conventional munitions and systems all remains unchecked,” said Abrams. “These capabilities continue to hold the United States, South Korea, and our regional allies at risk.”
[Read more: North Korea rebuilding missile test site after Hanoi summit failure]
While the United States has scaled backed major joint military drills with the South, Abrams said the North Koreans “have not taken their foot off the gas” and their troops continue to “train intensely.”
“For instance, we are watching the ongoing Korea People’s Army winter training cycle, including a slate of full-spectrum exercises, which is progressing along historic norms, meaning that we have observed no significant change in the size, scope, or timing of their ongoing exercises compared to the same time period over the last four years,” he said.
[Related: John Bolton warns North Korea not to test missiles]
But Abrams also said the changes in joint U.S.-South Korea training are designed to maintain a high degree of readiness while lowering the profile to support diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement with North Korea.
“The biggest difference is that we just don’t talk about it publicly,” Abrams said, noting that since he took over command of U.S. Forces Korea, there have been more that 80 combined field training exercises with South Korean military forces.
Abrams said the U.S.-South Korean alliance is “stronger than ever,” with troops “postured and ready” to deter any possible aggression.
