Unless it is stopped, North Korea will eventually acquire intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities, the four-star general selected to lead US forces in South Korea told lawmakers Tuesday.
Speaking at his nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, General Vincent Brooks warned that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was determined to build rockets that could one day reach as far as the United States.
"It's very clear through the parades that they've done, what systems they have and some of the attempted launches that ... over time, I believe we're going to see them acquire these capabilities if they're not stopped," Brooks said.
Senator John McCain, who chairs the committee, asked Brooks how concerned he was about the "immaturity and unpredictability of the rotund ruler in Pyongyang."
"I'm very concerned about the direction he's going, and it's evident that he's not yet deterred from his pursuit," Brooks responded.
"If confirmed, I intend to be a close partner with the Republic of Korea to make sure they're ready."
The US military has kept a huge contingent of troops in South Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953.
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