Vice President Mike Pence shared his thoughts on his visit to the Korean demilitarized zone Monday.
“For me, it was a chilling experience to look into a nation living under the kind of oppressive regime that the Kim family means in Pyongyang,” the vice president told CBS News.
During his recent trip to Asia, Pence made a surprise trip to the DMZ, which divides North and South Korea. He walked outside and stared into North Korea. “I thought it was important that people on the other side of the DMZ see our resolve in my face,” Pence told the Washington Post.
Pence revealed that President Donald Trump sent him there with a specific purpose. “He wanted me to reaffirm our commitment to South Korea, to Japan, to our allies in the region.” North Korea “is a threat to the peace and stability of our allies,” he added, “I think, as the president has said again and again, North Korea represents the most serious security threat in the world.”
The vice president warned North Korea multiple times not to challenge the new administration.
“The world witnessed the strength and resolve of our new president in actions taken in Syria and Afghanistan,” Pence said in South Korea. “North Korea would do well not to test his resolve — or the strength of the armed forces of the United States in this region.”
“North Korea is the most dangerous and urgent threat to peace and security in the Asia-Pacific,” the vice president said, standing on the deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan presently stationed at Yokosuka Naval Base in Tokyo Bay, Japan.
“The United States of America will always seek peace but under President Trump, the shield stands guard and the sword stands ready,” Pence added. “Those who would challenge our resolve or readiness should know, we will defeat any attack and meet any use of conventional or nuclear weapons with an overwhelming and effective American response.”
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