WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today outlined the range of national security threats present on the Korean peninsula – including the destabilizing influence posed by nuclear weapons as well as conventional weapons. During the hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King also underscored the need for United States to reinforce the strategic relationship between Japan and South Korea in order to strengthen our strategic presence in the region. Senator King’s comments came during a hearing to consider the nomination of General Paul LaCamera to be Commander of United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea.

“I know you’re not in the diplomatic business, but in many ways you are – helping to foster the relationship between Japan and South Korea, I think, is an important part of anybody’s job that has a responsibility in Korea,” said Senator King to General LaCamera. “That relationship seems to be one step forward, two steps back in recent years. I hope that is something you will work with your State Department counterparts and your military counterparts to both countries, because I think that’s a very important part of our strategic position and deterrent in the region.”

“We always talk about North Korea in terms of nuclear weapons, that’s the popular discussion here in the US…I was surprised, to some extent shocked, driving from Seoul to the [demilitarized zone (DMZ)] how close it is,” Senator King continued. “One of the concerns is that it would not take nuclear weapons or even missiles to inflict enormous damage on Seoul from the North Korean border, and I understand there are artillery batteries that are poised to do just that…I think we should realize that this isn’t only a nuclear issue, but there are some 25 or 30 million people at risk from conventional attack that could be triggered at a moment’s notice.”

As Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Strategic Forces – which oversees the United States’ nuclear posture worldwide – and a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as a thoughtful voice on national security and foreign policy issues in the Senate. In addition to his committee work, Senator King serves on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, the Senate North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Observer Group, and is co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. He voted in favor of the Senate’s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, which includes several funding and policy priorities advocated for by Senator King to support military facilities and communities in Maine and advance the national defense. The legislation – containing 25 bipartisan cybersecurity recommendations from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission – became law earlier this year after Senator King and the overwhelming majority of his colleagues voted to override President Trump’s veto.