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WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says it plans to "continue to ramp up the pressure on the North Korean regime."
The comments from spokesman Josh Earnest came after South Korea's president said North Korea has almost completed preparations for a fifth nuclear test. And she says the North has reportedly placed a new mid-range missile on standby for an impending launch.
Speculation about a fifth nuclear test increased last month when the North's state media cited leader Kim Jong Un as ordering a test of a nuclear warhead and ballistic missiles capable of carrying warheads.
The United States in recent years has deployed additional missile defense technology to the region to counter North Korean threats. And the U.S. is in talks with Seoul about deploying a high-altitude defense system. President Barack Obama, in a CBS News interview released today, said the goal of the stepped-up U.S. efforts is to create a "shield" against the North.
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APPHOTO DCJM201: White House press secretary Josh Earnest answers questions ranging from the Pentagon to relations with North Korea during his daily news briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (26 Apr 2016)
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