WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (AFP) - The United States will maintain a strong military deterrence in the Korean peninsula following North Korea's flexing of its nuclear muscle, the commander-designate of US troops in the Asia-Pacific area said Tuesday.
"North Korea's continuing development and proliferation of WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and ballistic missile capabilities pose a serious threat to the US and our allies," Admiral William Fallon said.
In pre-confirmation testimony at the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, he said Pyongyang's public declaration last Thursday that it possessed nuclear weapons was "disturbing."
"The fact that they have been exporting missile technology is a large concern," Fallon told the panel following questioning by its chairman John Warner, himself a Korean War veteran.
"North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs remain a serious concern," said Fallon who if confirmed as Commander of the Pacific Command will lead the largest of five combatant commands, with 300,000 US military personnel under his wing.
Fallon, a Navy fighter pilot who currently commands the US Atlantic Fleet, said North Korea's "conventional force posture, particularly the forward basing of a large percentage of its most-capable forces," also created a "volatile threat environment."
North Korea's 1.17 million-strong army makes it the most militarised country in the world relative to population.
Fallon said while diplomatic efforts continued to end North Korea's nuclear weapons drive, the Pacific Command "will maintain a strong deterrence" together with ally South Korea.
Pyongyang has also decided to boycott six-party talks with the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia designed to end its nuclear weapons program and a standoff with the United States.
The crisis erupted in October 2002 when the United States accused North Korea of operating a program based on highly enriched uranium, violating a 1994 arms control agreement.
02/16/2005 00:41 GMT - AFP