Previous Story
Kilili briefed on Korea threat
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson gave Congressman Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP) and other members of the U.S. House of Representatives a classified briefing on North Korea yesterday at the Capitol. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford Jr., and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats also added their expertise to the discussion. Tensions between North Korea and the United States have been growing, as North Korea continues development of advanced, long-range missiles and nuclear weapons and the U.S. moves its forces nearer to the Korean Peninsula in response.
“The Marianas are the part of America closest to North Korea,” Congressman Sablan said. “And we are within the current range of that country’s missiles. So, I have to be concerned and stay well-informed about the risk to the people I represent.
“Because of the top-secret nature of the information that Secretary Mattis, Secretary Tillerson, Director Coats, and General Dunford provided I cannot go into specifics. But I would certainly let the people of the Marianas know immediately, if they were in any immediate danger.
“At present that is not the case,” the Congressman added. “But we are all concerned about the increasing belligerence in our region. And, given the history of our islands, we are all too well aware of the horror of war.” (PR)
