US committed to defense of South Korea: Foreign Minister Ki-Moon Ban

WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (AFP) - South Korea remains convinced that the United States is prepared to come to its defense in the event of an attack by the North, despite ongoing US military commitments in Iraq, Seoul's Foreign Minister Ki-Moon Ban told US television Sunday.
"We have been maintaining combined defense posture between the United States and the Republic of Korea," Ban told CNN television.
"We have been assured ... even strengthened defense capabilities by the United States. And we are maintaining very close alliance with the United States," Ban said.
"We think that the United States has enough capabilities to deal with all these regional conflicts while they are concentrating their military forces in Iraq," Ban added.
"I think the United States and Koreans in close combined defense capabilities can maintain and can deal with any threats."
He made his remarks after Pyongyang raised tensions Thursday by annoucing it possessed nuclear weapons.

02/13/2005 18:58 GMT - AFP