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USFK commander Gen. Leon LaPorte
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Concerning rumors of an "October Surprise" claiming that North Korea may suddenly carry out a nuclear test in October, USFK commander Gen. Leon LaPorte said Friday that there have been no signs discovered that North Korea would conduct such a nuclear test. In a press conference with Korean Ministry of Defense beat reporters at Yongsan, LaPorte said only North Korea knew whether it had the capabilities to carry out a nuclear test. He also added that should North Korea conduct a nuclear test, a response would be decided following sufficient discussion between Korea and the United States, and that the North Korean nuclear issue would be resolved through diplomatic means like the six-party talks.
LePorte also said about the recent explosion in North Korea's Kim Hyong-jik County, Ryanggang Province that the incident was still under investigation, and specific information had yet to be collected. About suspicions that there have been snags in exchanging intelligence between Korea and the United States, the general said the two governments and military intelligence authorities have been sufficiently and quickly exchanging information on demand. He said both he and Combined Forces Command chief Gen. Kim Jang-soo studied the same intelligence reports every day.
(Jang Il-hyeon, ihjang@chosun.com )
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