1 00:00:02,559 --> 00:00:04,360 All right . Hi everyone . Good 2 00:00:04,369 --> 00:00:06,425 afternoon . I just have a few things 3 00:00:06,425 --> 00:00:08,536 here at the top and then I'd be happy 4 00:00:08,536 --> 00:00:10,591 to take your questions . Next week , 5 00:00:10,591 --> 00:00:12,813 the secretary will travel on his eighth 6 00:00:12,813 --> 00:00:14,758 trip to the Indo Pacific region to 7 00:00:14,758 --> 00:00:16,647 include the first ever visit by a 8 00:00:16,647 --> 00:00:18,758 serving Secretary of Defense to Papua 9 00:00:18,758 --> 00:00:20,480 New Guinea . He will meet with 10 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,425 government leaders to discuss next 11 00:00:22,425 --> 00:00:24,647 steps following the recent signature of 12 00:00:24,647 --> 00:00:26,425 the US Papua New Guinea Defense 13 00:00:26,425 --> 00:00:28,591 Cooperation Agreement , which reflects 14 00:00:28,591 --> 00:00:30,702 our partnership and our shared values 15 00:00:30,702 --> 00:00:32,702 as Pacific countries . He will then 16 00:00:32,702 --> 00:00:34,869 travel to Australia and join Secretary 17 00:00:34,869 --> 00:00:37,091 Blinken to meet with their counterparts 18 00:00:37,091 --> 00:00:39,147 for the 33rd annual Australia United 19 00:00:39,147 --> 00:00:41,380 States ministerial consultations to 20 00:00:41,389 --> 00:00:43,619 advance our unprecedented cooperation 21 00:00:43,630 --> 00:00:45,963 in the Indo Pacific region and globally . 22 00:00:46,319 --> 00:00:48,375 Also in Australia , Secretary Austin 23 00:00:48,375 --> 00:00:50,430 will visit us and Australian service 24 00:00:50,439 --> 00:00:52,740 members participating in exercise , 25 00:00:52,750 --> 00:00:55,279 Talisman Saber , the United states' 26 00:00:55,290 --> 00:00:57,012 largest military exercise with 27 00:00:57,012 --> 00:00:59,549 Australia . Every stop on the trip will 28 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:01,616 highlight how since the start of the 29 00:01:01,616 --> 00:01:03,504 Biden administration , the United 30 00:01:03,504 --> 00:01:05,727 States , its allies and partners across 31 00:01:05,727 --> 00:01:07,949 the Indo Pacific region have made major 32 00:01:07,949 --> 00:01:09,949 investments in their own sources of 33 00:01:09,949 --> 00:01:12,282 national strength and their shared ties , 34 00:01:12,282 --> 00:01:14,227 driving historic momentum toward a 35 00:01:14,227 --> 00:01:16,171 shared regional vision for peace , 36 00:01:16,171 --> 00:01:18,500 stability and prosperity in a free and 37 00:01:18,510 --> 00:01:21,370 open Indo Pacific . Yesterday , the 38 00:01:21,379 --> 00:01:23,379 department announced a new security 39 00:01:23,379 --> 00:01:25,212 assistance package that included 40 00:01:25,212 --> 00:01:27,323 additional air defense capabilities , 41 00:01:27,323 --> 00:01:29,435 munitions and mine clearing equipment 42 00:01:29,435 --> 00:01:32,040 totaling $1.3 billion . This USA I 43 00:01:32,050 --> 00:01:34,050 package highlights the continued us 44 00:01:34,050 --> 00:01:35,828 commitment to meeting Ukraine's 45 00:01:35,828 --> 00:01:37,828 pressing requirements by committing 46 00:01:37,828 --> 00:01:40,110 critical near term capabilities while 47 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,287 also building the enduring capacity of 48 00:01:42,287 --> 00:01:44,599 Ukraine's armed forces to defend its 49 00:01:44,610 --> 00:01:46,777 territory and deter Russian aggression 50 00:01:46,777 --> 00:01:49,959 over the mid and long term . Switching 51 00:01:49,970 --> 00:01:53,040 gears a bit to a US naval forces . 52 00:01:53,050 --> 00:01:55,489 Europe Africa force . Medical held an 53 00:01:55,500 --> 00:01:58,050 event in support of Africa malaria task 54 00:01:58,059 --> 00:02:01,080 force on July 17th through 21st in 55 00:02:01,089 --> 00:02:03,319 Accra Ghana , tactical level 56 00:02:03,330 --> 00:02:05,163 individuals from the Ministry of 57 00:02:05,163 --> 00:02:07,330 Defense and Ministry of Health and key 58 00:02:07,330 --> 00:02:09,108 leaders from 25 partner nations 59 00:02:09,108 --> 00:02:11,219 attended with a focus on the emerging 60 00:02:11,219 --> 00:02:13,860 threat of malaria . Since its inception 61 00:02:13,869 --> 00:02:15,949 in 2011 , the task force has brought 62 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,160 together scientists and policy makers 63 00:02:18,169 --> 00:02:20,280 with demonstrated interest in malaria 64 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:21,979 programs to share resources , 65 00:02:21,990 --> 00:02:24,000 strategies and expertise that would 66 00:02:24,009 --> 00:02:26,500 ultimately lead as a catalyst for 67 00:02:26,509 --> 00:02:29,720 change . The African malaria task force 68 00:02:29,729 --> 00:02:31,562 complements the US . President's 69 00:02:31,562 --> 00:02:33,690 malaria initiative focused on malaria 70 00:02:33,699 --> 00:02:36,110 prevention in Africa and the African 71 00:02:36,119 --> 00:02:38,570 partner outbreak Response Alliance 72 00:02:38,580 --> 00:02:40,691 which supports global health security 73 00:02:40,691 --> 00:02:42,747 objectives for the United States and 74 00:02:42,747 --> 00:02:45,009 partner nations . And lastly today , 75 00:02:45,020 --> 00:02:47,187 the Senate Armed Services voted on the 76 00:02:47,187 --> 00:02:49,409 nominations of General CQ Brown for the 77 00:02:49,409 --> 00:02:51,464 next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 78 00:02:51,464 --> 00:02:54,009 Staff and Gen General George for Army 79 00:02:54,020 --> 00:02:56,470 for the chief of staff for the Army . 80 00:02:56,809 --> 00:02:58,587 The committee including Senator 81 00:02:58,587 --> 00:03:00,910 Tuberville unanimously voted to move 82 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:02,975 these nominees to the senate floor . 83 00:03:03,130 --> 00:03:05,352 But however , as you're very familiar , 84 00:03:05,352 --> 00:03:07,186 Senator Tuberville is holding up 85 00:03:07,186 --> 00:03:09,352 military nominations , not just be not 86 00:03:09,352 --> 00:03:11,463 because of their qualifications , but 87 00:03:11,463 --> 00:03:13,352 because he disagrees with the dod 88 00:03:13,352 --> 00:03:15,186 policy . This unprecedented hold 89 00:03:15,186 --> 00:03:17,130 directly impacts readiness and our 90 00:03:17,130 --> 00:03:19,352 national security and to reiterate what 91 00:03:19,352 --> 00:03:21,686 Secretary Austin said earlier this week , 92 00:03:21,686 --> 00:03:23,852 one in five troops are women . They do 93 00:03:23,852 --> 00:03:26,074 not get a chance to pick where they are 94 00:03:26,074 --> 00:03:28,186 signed and they sacrifice every day . 95 00:03:28,186 --> 00:03:30,352 This policy allows service members and 96 00:03:30,352 --> 00:03:32,463 their family and their family members 97 00:03:32,463 --> 00:03:34,352 to access noncovered reproductive 98 00:03:34,352 --> 00:03:36,352 health , including important family 99 00:03:36,352 --> 00:03:38,686 services such as in vitro fertilization . 100 00:03:38,686 --> 00:03:40,741 And with that , I'd be happy to take 101 00:03:40,741 --> 00:03:42,908 your questions to do you want to start 102 00:03:42,908 --> 00:03:45,019 yourself ? Sure . Thanks Sabrina . Um 103 00:03:45,019 --> 00:03:47,186 Several questions about private King . 104 00:03:47,429 --> 00:03:50,100 Did his escorts make a mistake , not 105 00:03:50,110 --> 00:03:52,277 escorting him all the way to the plane 106 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:54,527 and staying to make sure he was on the 107 00:03:54,527 --> 00:03:56,416 plane when it took off ? And then 108 00:03:56,416 --> 00:03:58,749 secondly , um do you have a better idea ? 109 00:03:58,749 --> 00:04:00,919 Now of what he was doing from the 110 00:04:00,929 --> 00:04:03,059 moment he left the customs area until 111 00:04:03,070 --> 00:04:05,292 the point he crossed into North Korea . 112 00:04:05,292 --> 00:04:07,403 Then I have a couple more . Sure . Um 113 00:04:07,403 --> 00:04:10,179 So in terms of the escorting to the 114 00:04:10,190 --> 00:04:12,412 plane , this was someone that was going 115 00:04:12,589 --> 00:04:15,539 um as private king , I I should say was 116 00:04:15,550 --> 00:04:18,269 going from one duty station . He was he 117 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:20,501 was leaving a deployment and going back 118 00:04:20,501 --> 00:04:22,668 and returning home to his um home base 119 00:04:22,668 --> 00:04:25,630 or his home station . So when he was 120 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:27,862 escorted all the way up , he was , they 121 00:04:27,862 --> 00:04:30,029 were only able to him up to security . 122 00:04:30,029 --> 00:04:32,084 And when he got to the gate , he did 123 00:04:32,084 --> 00:04:34,196 confirm that he was , he was near the 124 00:04:34,196 --> 00:04:36,299 gate . Um uh And in terms of , I'm 125 00:04:36,309 --> 00:04:38,420 sorry , your second question was on , 126 00:04:38,420 --> 00:04:40,587 do you have any better visibility on , 127 00:04:40,587 --> 00:04:42,587 you know , there's about half a day 128 00:04:42,587 --> 00:04:44,753 where , yeah , you don't know where he 129 00:04:44,753 --> 00:04:46,920 was . So we have the , the army has um 130 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,087 uh launched an investigation into this 131 00:04:49,087 --> 00:04:51,198 incident . Um It's going to be led by 132 00:04:51,198 --> 00:04:53,365 army counterintelligence personnel and 133 00:04:53,365 --> 00:04:55,198 they'll be um conducting this in 134 00:04:55,198 --> 00:04:57,365 coordination with us forces Korea . Um 135 00:04:57,365 --> 00:04:59,730 So we at this moment right now , I 136 00:04:59,739 --> 00:05:01,406 can't tell you more about his 137 00:05:01,406 --> 00:05:03,628 whereabouts . That's something that the 138 00:05:03,628 --> 00:05:05,739 investigation would reveal . And then 139 00:05:05,739 --> 00:05:07,961 just to see if anything's changed , has 140 00:05:07,961 --> 00:05:07,649 North Korea responded to any outreach 141 00:05:07,660 --> 00:05:09,839 from either the US or from another 142 00:05:09,850 --> 00:05:12,017 country acting on our behalf about his 143 00:05:12,017 --> 00:05:14,183 welfare . Unfortunately , no , we have 144 00:05:14,183 --> 00:05:17,690 not heard any communication or , or 145 00:05:17,700 --> 00:05:19,811 correspondence from the North Koreans 146 00:05:19,811 --> 00:05:21,867 on this incident . Yeah , I'll go to 147 00:05:21,867 --> 00:05:23,756 jail . Um Sabrina , I'm trying to 148 00:05:23,756 --> 00:05:26,299 understand still why he was allowed to 149 00:05:26,309 --> 00:05:30,059 be unescorted to the gate . He was 150 00:05:30,070 --> 00:05:33,959 facing disciplinary um uh measures 151 00:05:33,970 --> 00:05:36,480 back here in the States . Uh Are you 152 00:05:36,489 --> 00:05:38,711 saying that there was just a sort of an 153 00:05:38,711 --> 00:05:40,767 honor code and a trust that he would 154 00:05:40,767 --> 00:05:42,656 get on board or why . I , I don't 155 00:05:42,656 --> 00:05:44,489 understand why there wasn't more 156 00:05:44,489 --> 00:05:46,767 monitoring or somebody to fly with him . 157 00:05:46,767 --> 00:05:48,989 Sure . Um , well , he wasn't in custody 158 00:05:48,989 --> 00:05:51,045 when he was going through , um , the 159 00:05:51,045 --> 00:05:52,933 airport , he was flying home . So 160 00:05:52,933 --> 00:05:55,045 because of that , he wasn't , because 161 00:05:55,045 --> 00:05:57,156 he wasn't in custody . He was leaving 162 00:05:57,156 --> 00:05:58,767 his deployment and had faced 163 00:05:58,767 --> 00:06:00,711 consequences in Korea . Had served 164 00:06:00,711 --> 00:06:02,822 those cons or served that , um , time 165 00:06:02,822 --> 00:06:04,378 that he uh served in the um 166 00:06:04,378 --> 00:06:06,322 correctional facility and then was 167 00:06:06,322 --> 00:06:10,160 returning home . So , um he was , 168 00:06:10,190 --> 00:06:12,412 he was facing additional administrative 169 00:06:12,412 --> 00:06:14,634 action , but I'd leave that to the army 170 00:06:14,634 --> 00:06:16,857 to speak to what exactly that was . But 171 00:06:16,857 --> 00:06:19,079 what I can say is that from what I've , 172 00:06:19,079 --> 00:06:21,190 from what we know is that when he was 173 00:06:21,190 --> 00:06:23,559 being escorted um to the airport , his 174 00:06:23,570 --> 00:06:26,040 escorts were not allowed to go beyond 175 00:06:26,049 --> 00:06:29,959 security . And then there's a story out 176 00:06:29,970 --> 00:06:32,137 suggesting that there's an army report 177 00:06:32,137 --> 00:06:34,303 indicating that this may have been pre 178 00:06:34,303 --> 00:06:36,303 planned with the North Koreans that 179 00:06:36,303 --> 00:06:39,920 somehow this soldier had been contacted 180 00:06:39,929 --> 00:06:43,059 and that this was part of a plan or an 181 00:06:43,070 --> 00:06:45,070 outreach and that the North Koreans 182 00:06:45,070 --> 00:06:47,070 were surprised when he crossed . Is 183 00:06:47,070 --> 00:06:49,292 that accurate ? Um What can you say ? I 184 00:06:49,292 --> 00:06:51,403 haven't seen that report . Um This is 185 00:06:51,403 --> 00:06:53,348 of course under investigation . We 186 00:06:53,348 --> 00:06:55,570 don't have any inclination of , of that 187 00:06:55,570 --> 00:06:57,626 at this time . But again , we'll let 188 00:06:57,626 --> 00:06:59,848 the investigation take its course , but 189 00:06:59,848 --> 00:06:59,320 I , I haven't seen that report so I 190 00:06:59,329 --> 00:07:02,130 couldn't comment on . I , again , 191 00:07:02,140 --> 00:07:04,473 that's something that the investigation , 192 00:07:04,473 --> 00:07:07,859 um will certainly , uh Glean that's not 193 00:07:07,869 --> 00:07:09,925 some , a characterization that we're 194 00:07:09,925 --> 00:07:12,500 using right now . So , do you have any 195 00:07:12,510 --> 00:07:15,119 uh knowledge of , uh perhaps their 196 00:07:15,130 --> 00:07:17,410 intelligence , uh that uh private King 197 00:07:17,420 --> 00:07:20,019 is , is alive ? Well , that's something 198 00:07:20,029 --> 00:07:22,140 that we're focused on . We're focused 199 00:07:22,140 --> 00:07:24,470 on um , our , our priority focus and , 200 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:26,591 um , what the secretary reiterated at 201 00:07:26,591 --> 00:07:28,758 the beginning of this week was that we 202 00:07:28,758 --> 00:07:30,924 want to bring him home . We don't know 203 00:07:30,924 --> 00:07:33,091 his condition , we don't know um where 204 00:07:33,091 --> 00:07:35,091 he's being held , we don't know the 205 00:07:35,091 --> 00:07:37,147 status of his health . Um but we are 206 00:07:37,147 --> 00:07:39,202 working with the interagency through 207 00:07:39,202 --> 00:07:41,595 the dod through the NSE and state . Um 208 00:07:41,605 --> 00:07:43,827 really pulling all levers of government 209 00:07:43,827 --> 00:07:45,883 here to , to try and find out more . 210 00:07:45,883 --> 00:07:48,049 But I don't , I don't have a , I don't 211 00:07:48,049 --> 00:07:50,216 have anything else to add on that . So 212 00:07:50,216 --> 00:07:49,454 you don't know , you couldn't say right 213 00:07:49,464 --> 00:07:51,631 now or even through intelligence uh uh 214 00:07:51,631 --> 00:07:53,853 channels that , you know , he's alive . 215 00:07:53,853 --> 00:07:55,797 I wouldn't be able to get into any 216 00:07:55,797 --> 00:07:57,853 intelligence or , or speak to that . 217 00:07:57,853 --> 00:08:00,225 All I can say is that from when he 218 00:08:00,234 --> 00:08:03,084 crossed over to the DMZ , um we know he 219 00:08:03,095 --> 00:08:05,769 is in custody of the North Koreans , 220 00:08:05,940 --> 00:08:07,829 but beyond that , in terms of his 221 00:08:07,839 --> 00:08:09,950 condition , I just , I can't speak to 222 00:08:09,950 --> 00:08:11,895 that . And then on the issue of us 223 00:08:11,895 --> 00:08:14,061 forces in South Korea , has there been 224 00:08:14,061 --> 00:08:16,283 any kind of greater restrictions put on 225 00:08:16,283 --> 00:08:18,506 them ? Has anything changed regarding , 226 00:08:18,506 --> 00:08:20,617 you know , their freedom of movements 227 00:08:20,617 --> 00:08:22,783 when off duty or , and , and , and you 228 00:08:22,783 --> 00:08:24,783 know , when they're in travel , you 229 00:08:24,783 --> 00:08:26,839 know , themselves . Uh That's a good 230 00:08:26,839 --> 00:08:29,670 question for um uh uh South Korea 231 00:08:29,679 --> 00:08:31,760 forces there . I am not aware of any 232 00:08:31,769 --> 00:08:33,936 changes to any policy , so I direct to 233 00:08:33,936 --> 00:08:36,440 them . Janie , thank you . Same 234 00:08:36,450 --> 00:08:39,849 questions on these issues . I'm 235 00:08:39,859 --> 00:08:43,340 wondering uh uh because uh everybody uh 236 00:08:43,349 --> 00:08:46,359 have a lot of questions about this . I 237 00:08:46,369 --> 00:08:49,820 uh visited this area several times . Js 238 00:08:49,830 --> 00:08:53,200 A is a place where safety 239 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:57,340 is highly demanded . But how 240 00:08:57,349 --> 00:09:00,549 could this soldier who left without the 241 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:03,739 boarding a plane attended the tour of ? 242 00:09:05,510 --> 00:09:07,343 Well , that's something that the 243 00:09:07,343 --> 00:09:09,729 investigation um is going to be looking 244 00:09:09,739 --> 00:09:11,950 at . We don't know his motivations for 245 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:14,520 why he did not board the plane . Um We 246 00:09:14,530 --> 00:09:16,530 don't know what he did in the hours 247 00:09:16,530 --> 00:09:18,890 between when he left the airport and 248 00:09:18,900 --> 00:09:22,599 when he crossed over um into uh 249 00:09:22,609 --> 00:09:25,599 the D pr K . We have snippets of time 250 00:09:25,609 --> 00:09:28,599 and , and understand from um we've seen 251 00:09:28,609 --> 00:09:30,720 some of the publicly reported imagery 252 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:32,720 of him taking the tour of what time 253 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:34,799 that was . But beyond that window of 254 00:09:34,809 --> 00:09:36,698 sort of the questions that you're 255 00:09:36,698 --> 00:09:38,920 getting into on like what he did during 256 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,031 the time that uh between when he left 257 00:09:41,031 --> 00:09:42,920 the airport and the tour , that's 258 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:42,840 something that the investigation is 259 00:09:42,849 --> 00:09:45,071 gonna have to look into . I think there 260 00:09:45,071 --> 00:09:48,669 was a security gap because they follow 261 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,359 him and they not , this is guys , they 262 00:09:51,369 --> 00:09:53,969 have a trouble makers you know . Sure . 263 00:09:53,979 --> 00:09:56,035 Well , again , it's something that I 264 00:09:56,035 --> 00:09:57,868 mentioned before , this wasn't a 265 00:09:57,868 --> 00:10:00,201 service member that was in custody . Um , 266 00:10:00,201 --> 00:10:03,330 he had served , uh , um , in a , in a 267 00:10:03,340 --> 00:10:05,989 correctional facility in South Korea . 268 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,250 Um , he was being returned to his 269 00:10:08,489 --> 00:10:11,500 station at home . Um , so there was , 270 00:10:11,510 --> 00:10:13,399 you know , we , I , I don't think 271 00:10:13,399 --> 00:10:15,621 anyone anticipated that he was going to 272 00:10:15,621 --> 00:10:17,677 leave the airport . Um , he did have 273 00:10:17,677 --> 00:10:17,650 escorts , take him all the way up 274 00:10:17,659 --> 00:10:19,830 through security . Um And what we know 275 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:22,007 is that he confirmed that he was , you 276 00:10:22,007 --> 00:10:24,340 know , near or , or somewhere close by 277 00:10:24,349 --> 00:10:26,516 the gate , but I don't think there was 278 00:10:26,516 --> 00:10:28,627 any anticipation that he was going to 279 00:10:28,627 --> 00:10:32,109 not board his flight . China and 280 00:10:32,119 --> 00:10:35,869 Russia are conducting large scale 281 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:39,789 military exercise on the east 282 00:10:39,799 --> 00:10:43,539 coast near South Korea . And meanwhile , 283 00:10:43,549 --> 00:10:45,799 North Korean , Kim Jong Un announced 284 00:10:45,809 --> 00:10:49,710 today he ready for the nuclear 285 00:10:49,719 --> 00:10:52,989 war . How can you respond ? Well , I 286 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,440 think on , on the exercises we've seen 287 00:10:55,450 --> 00:10:57,919 um the China and Russia conduct these 288 00:10:57,929 --> 00:11:00,979 exercises just last year . Um Again , 289 00:11:00,989 --> 00:11:02,760 it shows China citing or , or 290 00:11:02,770 --> 00:11:05,109 prioritizing um an exercise with a 291 00:11:05,119 --> 00:11:07,229 country that unjustly invaded its 292 00:11:07,239 --> 00:11:09,770 sovereign neighbor . Um You saw the 293 00:11:09,780 --> 00:11:11,836 joint statement that President Putin 294 00:11:11,836 --> 00:11:14,058 and President Xi , I think had also put 295 00:11:14,058 --> 00:11:16,010 out . Um Again , all of this 296 00:11:16,020 --> 00:11:17,969 demonstrates that the link between 297 00:11:17,979 --> 00:11:20,250 European security , Indo Pacific 298 00:11:20,260 --> 00:11:22,371 security . It's all , it's all linked 299 00:11:22,371 --> 00:11:24,919 together and we certainly are , are in 300 00:11:24,929 --> 00:11:26,873 touch with our allies and partners 301 00:11:26,873 --> 00:11:29,040 around the world , but we've seen this 302 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:31,096 exercise take place just , just last 303 00:11:31,096 --> 00:11:33,318 year . I'm going to move on and I can , 304 00:11:33,318 --> 00:11:35,429 I can always come back , Matt today . 305 00:11:35,429 --> 00:11:37,429 North Korea's defense chief implied 306 00:11:37,429 --> 00:11:39,262 that the presence of the nuclear 307 00:11:39,262 --> 00:11:41,369 capable us . S Kentucky at port in 308 00:11:41,380 --> 00:11:43,940 South Korea might fall under the legal 309 00:11:43,950 --> 00:11:46,130 conditions for his country's use of 310 00:11:46,140 --> 00:11:48,362 nuclear weapons . Do you take that as a 311 00:11:48,362 --> 00:11:50,418 threat ? And what's the department's 312 00:11:50,418 --> 00:11:52,473 response to that language ? Well , I 313 00:11:52,473 --> 00:11:55,419 certainly don't think rhetoric like 314 00:11:55,429 --> 00:11:58,150 that is helpful . The port visit that 315 00:11:58,159 --> 00:11:59,992 you're referring to is something 316 00:11:59,992 --> 00:12:02,159 consistent that the president had said 317 00:12:02,159 --> 00:12:04,244 earlier this year when President Yon 318 00:12:04,255 --> 00:12:06,705 came to visit . Um I'm , I'm forgetting 319 00:12:06,715 --> 00:12:08,715 the exact month but uh when the two 320 00:12:08,715 --> 00:12:11,125 leaders met , um this is something 321 00:12:11,135 --> 00:12:13,246 consistent when it comes to strategic 322 00:12:13,246 --> 00:12:15,395 deterrence and um it reflects our 323 00:12:15,405 --> 00:12:17,645 ironclad commitment to the region , but 324 00:12:17,655 --> 00:12:19,488 I wouldn't say that , you know , 325 00:12:19,488 --> 00:12:21,544 rhetoric like that , it's incredibly 326 00:12:21,544 --> 00:12:23,433 dangerous . We're not there um to 327 00:12:23,433 --> 00:12:25,950 instigate or , or to , um you know , 328 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:28,049 you know , uh I'm using a bad 329 00:12:28,059 --> 00:12:30,289 expression but poke the bear . Um we're 330 00:12:30,299 --> 00:12:32,859 there , this is a further deepening of 331 00:12:32,869 --> 00:12:36,150 our cooperation with um South Korea and 332 00:12:36,159 --> 00:12:38,326 something that um was announced during 333 00:12:38,326 --> 00:12:40,640 the Washington Declaration . So , um 334 00:12:40,849 --> 00:12:43,016 again , I would just refer you back to 335 00:12:43,016 --> 00:12:45,127 what the president had announced when 336 00:12:45,127 --> 00:12:47,349 the state uh when President Yun visited 337 00:12:47,349 --> 00:12:49,349 earlier this year . Can you say any 338 00:12:49,349 --> 00:12:51,405 more about the efforts being made to 339 00:12:51,405 --> 00:12:53,571 contact North Korea either directly or 340 00:12:53,571 --> 00:12:55,682 through intermediaries as a matter of 341 00:12:55,682 --> 00:12:57,627 making the calls and just no one's 342 00:12:57,627 --> 00:12:57,109 picking up on the other end . There's 343 00:12:57,119 --> 00:12:59,341 no sign of any response at all so far . 344 00:12:59,341 --> 00:13:01,452 Unfortunately , no , there is no sign 345 00:13:01,452 --> 00:13:03,397 of engagement from the North Korea 346 00:13:03,397 --> 00:13:05,619 Koreans . We don't have , um , I mean , 347 00:13:05,619 --> 00:13:08,299 we , we've always maintained that we 348 00:13:08,309 --> 00:13:10,531 want to have diplomatic channels remain 349 00:13:10,531 --> 00:13:12,587 open . We've always wanted to ensure 350 00:13:12,587 --> 00:13:14,365 that there are , is military to 351 00:13:14,365 --> 00:13:16,642 military cooperation and communication . 352 00:13:16,642 --> 00:13:18,809 But sadly , there is , there is not on 353 00:13:18,809 --> 00:13:21,031 the North Korean side . Um You've heard 354 00:13:21,031 --> 00:13:23,253 from my NSC counterparts that there has 355 00:13:23,253 --> 00:13:25,309 been engagement um at their level to 356 00:13:25,309 --> 00:13:27,799 Sweden and , and um and other , you 357 00:13:27,809 --> 00:13:29,920 know , interagency efforts to try and 358 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:32,489 engage North Korea , but we just have 359 00:13:32,500 --> 00:13:34,556 not heard back on this issue . Thank 360 00:13:34,556 --> 00:13:37,520 you . Just a quick clarification on 361 00:13:37,530 --> 00:13:39,530 that those efforts , those outreach 362 00:13:39,530 --> 00:13:41,697 efforts continue despite North Korea's 363 00:13:41,697 --> 00:13:43,697 non answers right there , there are 364 00:13:43,697 --> 00:13:45,808 still ongoing outreach efforts . They 365 00:13:45,808 --> 00:13:45,450 are . Yes . And then the second 366 00:13:45,460 --> 00:13:47,760 question at any point while Travis King 367 00:13:47,770 --> 00:13:49,881 was in South Korea , especially after 368 00:13:49,881 --> 00:13:51,937 he had served 50 days in , in a sofa 369 00:13:51,937 --> 00:13:54,048 jail . Was there ever a psychological 370 00:13:54,048 --> 00:13:56,103 evaluation conducted to see if there 371 00:13:56,103 --> 00:13:58,326 were any issues or , or to determine if 372 00:13:58,326 --> 00:14:00,326 something like this might have been 373 00:14:00,326 --> 00:14:02,048 likely or , or concerned about 374 00:14:02,048 --> 00:14:04,159 something like this ? I have to refer 375 00:14:04,159 --> 00:14:06,381 you to army for that . I'm just , I'm , 376 00:14:06,381 --> 00:14:08,381 I don't know , I , I am not aware . 377 00:14:08,381 --> 00:14:10,381 Yeah . Yes . Hi . I wanted to ask a 378 00:14:10,381 --> 00:14:12,679 follow up question about the USA I 379 00:14:12,690 --> 00:14:15,479 package yesterday . Um Can you provide 380 00:14:15,489 --> 00:14:18,349 any more details on the tactical 381 00:14:18,359 --> 00:14:21,130 vehicles for towing equipment and also 382 00:14:21,140 --> 00:14:23,340 for recovering vehicles ? Um Can you 383 00:14:23,349 --> 00:14:25,880 say if those have been sent before ? Um 384 00:14:25,890 --> 00:14:28,539 And if so , why is this something 385 00:14:28,549 --> 00:14:30,438 that's being provided under usa I 386 00:14:30,438 --> 00:14:32,438 rather than uh equipment drawdown ? 387 00:14:32,438 --> 00:14:35,289 Sure USA I is a long term commitment to 388 00:14:35,299 --> 00:14:39,030 Ukraine . Um We have done over or 389 00:14:39,039 --> 00:14:41,090 we are at 42 presidential drawdown 390 00:14:41,099 --> 00:14:43,489 authorities . Now , um again , it's our 391 00:14:43,500 --> 00:14:46,309 long term commitment . We um we , we 392 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:48,376 evaluate what's on our stock shelves 393 00:14:48,376 --> 00:14:51,150 and um see what we can provide , um you 394 00:14:51,159 --> 00:14:52,869 know , within days and weeks 395 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,919 immediately to Ukraine . But the USA I 396 00:14:55,929 --> 00:14:58,096 is just another type of commitment and 397 00:14:58,096 --> 00:15:00,207 our long term commitment to Ukraine . 398 00:15:00,207 --> 00:15:02,207 Um As you heard , the secretary say 399 00:15:02,207 --> 00:15:04,151 earlier this week , the Ukrainians 400 00:15:04,151 --> 00:15:06,373 certainly have , have what they need to 401 00:15:06,373 --> 00:15:05,989 be successful in their counter 402 00:15:06,090 --> 00:15:08,419 offensive . They have the combat power . 403 00:15:08,429 --> 00:15:10,809 Um They have the ability to , to demine 404 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,016 the minefield that the Russians have 405 00:15:13,016 --> 00:15:15,182 laid . And so we're confident in their 406 00:15:15,182 --> 00:15:17,979 ability to continue to push on in the 407 00:15:17,989 --> 00:15:20,211 counter offensive . And again , the USA 408 00:15:20,211 --> 00:15:22,322 I is just another tool in our toolbox 409 00:15:22,322 --> 00:15:24,545 to demonstrate our long term commitment 410 00:15:24,545 --> 00:15:25,545 to Ukraine , 411 00:15:29,369 --> 00:15:32,869 the US of being , being low 412 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,429 or , or anything . It's just , it's 413 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:37,662 just another commitment for long . It's 414 00:15:37,662 --> 00:15:39,829 a long term commitment um to Ukraine . 415 00:15:39,829 --> 00:15:41,829 And again , you can see some of the 416 00:15:41,829 --> 00:15:43,940 other packages , other USA I packages 417 00:15:43,940 --> 00:15:45,773 that we've rolled out include um 418 00:15:45,773 --> 00:15:47,996 similar equipment and systems . I don't 419 00:15:47,996 --> 00:15:50,107 have that whole list in front of me , 420 00:15:50,107 --> 00:15:52,329 but you can go on defense dot gov and , 421 00:15:52,329 --> 00:15:52,270 and find all of that . I'm gonna take 422 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,391 one question from the phone here . Um 423 00:15:54,391 --> 00:15:57,780 Howard Altman War . Thanks Sabrina . Um 424 00:15:57,789 --> 00:16:01,260 Ukraine today issued a warning um about 425 00:16:01,270 --> 00:16:03,859 shipping in the Black Sea . It follows . 426 00:16:03,869 --> 00:16:07,299 Um Can you hear me if uh we're just 427 00:16:07,309 --> 00:16:09,365 gonna turn up your volume just a bit 428 00:16:09,365 --> 00:16:12,340 sorry ? Ok . Anyway , um can you hear 429 00:16:12,349 --> 00:16:14,789 me now ? That's it . 430 00:16:15,710 --> 00:16:19,409 So , um Russia Ukraine today 431 00:16:19,419 --> 00:16:21,950 issued a warning about Black Sea uh 432 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:23,880 shipping a follow on by Russia 433 00:16:23,890 --> 00:16:26,599 yesterday . How concerned is the US 434 00:16:26,609 --> 00:16:29,109 about uh shipping in the Black Sea ? 435 00:16:29,119 --> 00:16:31,341 Given this warning , given the tensions 436 00:16:31,341 --> 00:16:33,729 and , and what given there's no naval 437 00:16:33,739 --> 00:16:35,850 presence that the US has in the Black 438 00:16:35,850 --> 00:16:38,119 Sea ? What is being done about that by 439 00:16:38,130 --> 00:16:40,130 the Pentagon ? Well , we've already 440 00:16:40,130 --> 00:16:42,070 seen the ramifications of Russia 441 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:44,302 withdrawing from the grain deal . We're 442 00:16:44,302 --> 00:16:46,413 seeing higher global wheat prices all 443 00:16:46,413 --> 00:16:48,524 around the world . Um And we're gonna 444 00:16:48,524 --> 00:16:51,909 see uh many countries impacted by uh 445 00:16:51,919 --> 00:16:53,863 Russia withdrawing from the deal , 446 00:16:53,863 --> 00:16:56,739 Africa , Latin America . Um others that 447 00:16:56,750 --> 00:16:59,309 depend on this grain um all around the 448 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:01,510 world , um countries that are food 449 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,770 insecure . And so , um I would say that 450 00:17:04,780 --> 00:17:07,160 the message that Vladimir Putin is 451 00:17:07,170 --> 00:17:09,281 sending to these countries is that he 452 00:17:09,281 --> 00:17:11,392 doesn't care . He continues to engage 453 00:17:11,392 --> 00:17:14,439 in this unjust um unprovoked war . That 454 00:17:14,449 --> 00:17:16,920 seems to be his priority rather than um 455 00:17:16,930 --> 00:17:19,119 the idea that there could be other 456 00:17:19,130 --> 00:17:21,352 starving countries all around the world 457 00:17:21,352 --> 00:17:23,319 um because he has , you know , 458 00:17:23,329 --> 00:17:25,496 withdrawn Russia from the Grand deal . 459 00:17:25,496 --> 00:17:27,607 So on our part , like you mentioned , 460 00:17:27,607 --> 00:17:30,280 we don't have um assets in the Black 461 00:17:30,290 --> 00:17:32,859 Sea . But what we can do is continue to 462 00:17:32,869 --> 00:17:35,589 encourage and be outspoken about um 463 00:17:35,630 --> 00:17:39,000 urging Russia to return to the deal and 464 00:17:39,010 --> 00:17:41,560 to allow that grain to reach as many 465 00:17:41,569 --> 00:17:44,199 people as possible . Great , I'll come 466 00:17:44,209 --> 00:17:46,153 back in the Hey , real , yeah . Uh 467 00:17:46,153 --> 00:17:48,265 Thank you . I want to follow up about 468 00:17:48,265 --> 00:17:50,569 the China uh joint exercises in the 469 00:17:50,579 --> 00:17:54,510 city of Japan . Uh Do you assess they 470 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:56,819 are responding to us ? Japan , South 471 00:17:56,829 --> 00:18:00,239 Korea's defense cooperation ? Do you 472 00:18:00,250 --> 00:18:02,670 characterize their exercises as 473 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:05,540 concerning ? Well , we , we monitor the 474 00:18:05,550 --> 00:18:07,772 exercises but this is something that we 475 00:18:07,772 --> 00:18:09,717 saw last year . So again , we've , 476 00:18:09,717 --> 00:18:12,290 we've seen that Russia , China 477 00:18:12,300 --> 00:18:14,244 continues to engage in military in 478 00:18:14,244 --> 00:18:16,180 military cooperation with Russia 479 00:18:16,349 --> 00:18:18,750 despite the fact that it is in its 480 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:20,871 brutal war against Ukraine . So we do 481 00:18:20,871 --> 00:18:23,149 monitor but this is something that did , 482 00:18:23,149 --> 00:18:25,204 we did observe last year . Yeah , no 483 00:18:25,204 --> 00:18:27,538 problem . Sorry . Yes . Hey , thank you . 484 00:18:27,538 --> 00:18:29,699 I want to go back to the Great Deal 485 00:18:29,709 --> 00:18:31,765 question regarding the tensions that 486 00:18:31,765 --> 00:18:33,820 have been building up recently . How 487 00:18:33,820 --> 00:18:35,931 engaged are you with the Turks or are 488 00:18:35,931 --> 00:18:37,653 you in close contact with them 489 00:18:37,653 --> 00:18:39,820 regarding the security for the stumble 490 00:18:39,820 --> 00:18:41,598 straits ? For example , can you 491 00:18:41,598 --> 00:18:43,431 elaborate on that ? I don't have 492 00:18:43,431 --> 00:18:45,765 anything more specific to add right now , 493 00:18:45,765 --> 00:18:47,931 I mean , Russia just withdrew from the 494 00:18:47,931 --> 00:18:50,153 Green Deal . We continue to urge Russia 495 00:18:50,153 --> 00:18:51,987 to return to it . Turkey was the 496 00:18:51,987 --> 00:18:54,153 leading nation that helped broker that 497 00:18:54,153 --> 00:18:56,786 deal . Um , we certainly talked to our 498 00:18:56,796 --> 00:18:59,056 Turkish counterparts and , um , our 499 00:18:59,066 --> 00:19:01,526 allies who have been supportive of 500 00:19:01,536 --> 00:19:03,592 Ukraine during this war . But I just 501 00:19:03,592 --> 00:19:05,703 don't have more to , to share at this 502 00:19:05,703 --> 00:19:07,869 moment specific regarding the security 503 00:19:07,869 --> 00:19:10,092 of the straits or like , you know , the 504 00:19:10,092 --> 00:19:12,369 civilian ships or any other ships . No , 505 00:19:12,369 --> 00:19:14,536 nothing , I mean nothing specific from 506 00:19:14,536 --> 00:19:16,703 like what the United States is doing . 507 00:19:16,703 --> 00:19:18,814 We don't have assets in the Black Sea 508 00:19:18,814 --> 00:19:18,411 right now with regard to that . Are you 509 00:19:18,421 --> 00:19:20,532 in close cooperation with the Turks ? 510 00:19:20,532 --> 00:19:22,865 Is there anything specific on the table ? 511 00:19:22,865 --> 00:19:25,143 Nothing that I can share at the moment ? 512 00:19:25,143 --> 00:19:27,800 Yeah . Yes , thank you . Um The Belarus 513 00:19:27,810 --> 00:19:30,790 military and members of Wagner group um 514 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:34,140 as the military of Belarus announced 515 00:19:34,150 --> 00:19:36,569 they will hold um four days of joint 516 00:19:36,579 --> 00:19:38,746 training in the region near the Poland 517 00:19:38,746 --> 00:19:41,229 border . So um how much concerns do you 518 00:19:41,239 --> 00:19:43,729 have about the security situation in 519 00:19:43,739 --> 00:19:47,000 that area of the eastern border of the 520 00:19:47,010 --> 00:19:50,250 NATO and EU and is there any change 521 00:19:50,260 --> 00:19:53,739 with the US troops planning uh who 522 00:19:53,750 --> 00:19:56,239 already they take from Poland as a base 523 00:19:56,250 --> 00:19:58,417 for them ? Thank you . No announcement 524 00:19:58,417 --> 00:20:00,410 in terms of uh any type of troop 525 00:20:00,420 --> 00:20:02,959 movement or uh repositioning of , of 526 00:20:02,969 --> 00:20:04,969 any of our troops along the eastern 527 00:20:04,969 --> 00:20:06,858 flank . Um In terms of what we're 528 00:20:06,858 --> 00:20:09,380 seeing in Belarus seen the reporting 529 00:20:09,390 --> 00:20:11,390 that Wagner troops continue to move 530 00:20:11,390 --> 00:20:14,199 into that region and continue to um I 531 00:20:14,209 --> 00:20:17,670 think consolidate there . Um Look , I 532 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:20,890 would , I would , I would let the 533 00:20:20,900 --> 00:20:23,349 Belarusians and , and Wagner speak to 534 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:25,550 what their intentions are . Um We've 535 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:29,349 certainly seen Wagner um forces get um 536 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:32,502 sort of reintegrated within the Russian 537 00:20:32,502 --> 00:20:34,669 military . But again , our focus is on 538 00:20:34,669 --> 00:20:36,689 Ukraine , what we can do to help 539 00:20:36,699 --> 00:20:39,050 Ukraine in this fight now and what we 540 00:20:39,060 --> 00:20:41,640 can continue to sustain with for its 541 00:20:41,650 --> 00:20:43,706 long term . And so that's what we're 542 00:20:43,706 --> 00:20:45,817 focused on . You just saw us roll out 543 00:20:45,817 --> 00:20:48,089 uh another security assistance package 544 00:20:48,099 --> 00:20:50,099 um for long term assistance earlier 545 00:20:50,099 --> 00:20:52,266 this week , we're going to continue to 546 00:20:52,266 --> 00:20:54,599 roll out more packages as we go forward . 547 00:20:54,599 --> 00:20:56,543 Yeah , thank you . Um I have a few 548 00:20:56,543 --> 00:20:58,599 questions on North Korea . Our first 549 00:20:58,599 --> 00:21:00,910 next week , July 27th will mark the 550 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:02,920 anniversary of the armistice of the 551 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,959 Korean War in 1953 . How much are you 552 00:21:05,969 --> 00:21:08,136 worried about North Korea's additional 553 00:21:08,136 --> 00:21:10,339 provocations , including another 554 00:21:10,349 --> 00:21:13,140 satellite missile launch and to follow 555 00:21:13,150 --> 00:21:15,839 up on the detention of the US soldier . 556 00:21:15,859 --> 00:21:18,150 So given the recent tension in the 557 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:20,160 region , are you worried that North 558 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:22,140 Korea could use this case as a 559 00:21:22,150 --> 00:21:24,599 bargaining tip ? Well , it's hard to 560 00:21:24,609 --> 00:21:26,839 speak to hypotheticals . Um So I 561 00:21:26,849 --> 00:21:29,016 couldn't really say on on that front . 562 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:32,829 Um Our biggest concern um about private 563 00:21:32,839 --> 00:21:35,117 king is that we want to bring him home . 564 00:21:35,117 --> 00:21:37,140 Um And we are doing whatever we can 565 00:21:37,150 --> 00:21:39,459 through the interagency from Dod and , 566 00:21:39,469 --> 00:21:43,010 and other partners um to , to find a 567 00:21:43,020 --> 00:21:45,131 way that we could bring him home . Um 568 00:21:45,131 --> 00:21:47,298 Again , as you heard me say , I just , 569 00:21:47,298 --> 00:21:49,520 we have not heard any contact , we have 570 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:51,520 not received any communication back 571 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:53,742 from the North Koreans . But um that is 572 00:21:53,742 --> 00:21:55,869 something that it remains our focus . 573 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,319 Um in terms of the anniversary , I mean , 574 00:21:58,329 --> 00:22:00,440 again , hard to predict . I , I don't 575 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,199 know what um D pr K is planning . All I 576 00:22:03,209 --> 00:22:05,153 can say is , again , we don't , we 577 00:22:05,153 --> 00:22:07,680 don't seek conflict . Um We continue to 578 00:22:07,689 --> 00:22:09,745 work with our allies and partners in 579 00:22:09,745 --> 00:22:12,219 the region to further um deter but 580 00:22:12,229 --> 00:22:14,340 we're not looking to see conflict and 581 00:22:14,340 --> 00:22:16,618 we're not looking for more provocation . 582 00:22:17,420 --> 00:22:21,329 Uh Yeah . Um On the outreach to private 583 00:22:21,339 --> 00:22:23,569 king , how confident is the Department 584 00:22:23,579 --> 00:22:25,746 of Defense that your outreach is being 585 00:22:25,746 --> 00:22:28,430 received by the North Koreans ? Well , 586 00:22:28,439 --> 00:22:30,272 it's hard to say . Um we haven't 587 00:22:30,272 --> 00:22:32,328 received any communication back from 588 00:22:32,328 --> 00:22:34,939 them . Um All we can do is continue to 589 00:22:34,949 --> 00:22:37,030 communicate both publicly and in 590 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:40,219 private channels . Um It is of course , 591 00:22:40,229 --> 00:22:42,819 concerning when you don't hear back , 592 00:22:42,829 --> 00:22:45,160 but we've never also had engagement 593 00:22:45,170 --> 00:22:46,948 with the North Koreans and they 594 00:22:46,948 --> 00:22:49,003 certainly have shut down military to 595 00:22:49,003 --> 00:22:51,003 military engagement with us at , at 596 00:22:51,003 --> 00:22:52,837 senior levels . So , um it's not 597 00:22:52,837 --> 00:22:55,729 unexpected , but with this case , in 598 00:22:55,739 --> 00:22:58,599 particular , we are , of course , our 599 00:22:58,630 --> 00:23:00,852 priority is to bring an American home . 600 00:23:00,852 --> 00:23:02,963 Um That is what we want to do . Um So 601 00:23:02,963 --> 00:23:05,241 we're gonna keep engaging where we can . 602 00:23:05,241 --> 00:23:07,352 Yeah , Tara , sure . Can you describe 603 00:23:07,352 --> 00:23:09,463 what those private channels are ? Are 604 00:23:09,463 --> 00:23:11,797 these phone calls ? Is it cables ? What , 605 00:23:11,797 --> 00:23:14,019 how are you communicating ? I would let 606 00:23:14,019 --> 00:23:16,074 each agency speak to that . Um These 607 00:23:16,074 --> 00:23:17,963 are , you know , these are pretty 608 00:23:17,963 --> 00:23:21,390 sensitive um ways of communicating and 609 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:24,160 um I would just leave it at that . Yeah , 610 00:23:24,170 --> 00:23:26,337 I'm gonna go to the back and then I'll 611 00:23:26,337 --> 00:23:28,448 come back for one more . Yeah . Thank 612 00:23:28,448 --> 00:23:28,040 you for your time today . Um I had a 613 00:23:28,050 --> 00:23:29,994 quick question regarding the uh us 614 00:23:29,994 --> 00:23:32,400 Japan Rok Trilateral Summit uh reported 615 00:23:32,410 --> 00:23:34,632 today to take place next month . Um Can 616 00:23:34,632 --> 00:23:36,743 you provide us with any insights into 617 00:23:36,743 --> 00:23:38,854 the agenda and the primary objectives 618 00:23:38,854 --> 00:23:40,799 of the meeting ? And can we expect 619 00:23:40,799 --> 00:23:42,799 these meetings uh to continue later 620 00:23:42,799 --> 00:23:44,910 down the line as well ? Uh Thanks for 621 00:23:44,910 --> 00:23:44,319 the question . I'm just not gonna get 622 00:23:44,329 --> 00:23:46,162 ahead of anything or any further 623 00:23:46,162 --> 00:23:48,430 announcements . So I will , I will not 624 00:23:48,439 --> 00:23:50,606 get ahead of that . Sorry , and I have 625 00:23:50,606 --> 00:23:52,717 nothing else to provide . Sorry , I'm 626 00:23:52,717 --> 00:23:54,717 just gonna go to Erin and then I'll 627 00:23:54,717 --> 00:23:56,772 come back to Janie . So when you say 628 00:23:56,772 --> 00:23:58,995 agencies , how many are involved ? It's 629 00:23:58,995 --> 00:24:01,161 not just the dod trying to get private 630 00:24:01,161 --> 00:24:03,989 King back . It's Dod State . Who else ? 631 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:06,459 Yeah , this is in , in our agency . Um 632 00:24:06,469 --> 00:24:08,580 This is collaborative . We , we don't 633 00:24:08,580 --> 00:24:11,704 work in silos . Um keep referring as 634 00:24:11,844 --> 00:24:14,525 the o dod so well . It is , it is our , 635 00:24:14,564 --> 00:24:16,994 it is our soldier . Um but we are 636 00:24:17,005 --> 00:24:19,061 certainly working with state and the 637 00:24:19,061 --> 00:24:21,244 NSC uh both who have incredibly um 638 00:24:21,255 --> 00:24:23,635 powerful voices all , all around the 639 00:24:23,645 --> 00:24:25,812 world and have counterparts all around 640 00:24:25,812 --> 00:24:28,755 the world to um lever what we can to 641 00:24:28,765 --> 00:24:30,432 engage with North Korea . And 642 00:24:30,432 --> 00:24:32,487 unfortunately , we just have not had 643 00:24:32,487 --> 00:24:34,275 any successful engagement uh 644 00:24:34,285 --> 00:24:37,089 breakthrough right now . OK , Jan , and 645 00:24:37,099 --> 00:24:40,319 then that Travis uh 646 00:24:41,599 --> 00:24:44,699 to the North Korea . But how do you 647 00:24:44,709 --> 00:24:47,329 know whether he wanted to stay in North 648 00:24:47,339 --> 00:24:49,770 Korea or he doesn't want to come to the 649 00:24:49,780 --> 00:24:51,836 United States ? I mean , he's home . 650 00:24:51,836 --> 00:24:54,410 Well , again , Janie , I , I'm cautious 651 00:24:54,420 --> 00:24:56,760 to use that word . Um That's something 652 00:24:56,770 --> 00:25:00,130 that the investigation will um , uh 653 00:25:00,329 --> 00:25:02,329 yield . Uh , what I can tell you is 654 00:25:02,329 --> 00:25:04,496 that the soldier's current duty status 655 00:25:04,496 --> 00:25:06,718 is absent without leave . Um That's all 656 00:25:06,718 --> 00:25:08,940 I can say right now . I , I it's hard , 657 00:25:08,940 --> 00:25:11,162 I can't say what he was thinking at the 658 00:25:11,162 --> 00:25:13,107 time . Um This is a very difficult 659 00:25:13,107 --> 00:25:15,162 situation . I can't imagine what his 660 00:25:15,162 --> 00:25:17,380 family is going through . Um All I can 661 00:25:17,390 --> 00:25:20,410 say is that our priority is to bring 662 00:25:20,420 --> 00:25:23,910 him home . Um And uh , we are doing 663 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:26,449 everything that we can um , to do that . 664 00:25:26,819 --> 00:25:29,439 All right , Mike , the only country 665 00:25:29,449 --> 00:25:32,979 that acts as between the US 666 00:25:32,989 --> 00:25:35,290 and North Korea , are there other 667 00:25:35,300 --> 00:25:37,619 countries that were , that the US is 668 00:25:37,630 --> 00:25:39,574 reaching out to , I can't speak to 669 00:25:39,574 --> 00:25:41,630 other countries , but I know that we 670 00:25:41,630 --> 00:25:43,741 have worked with Sweden previously on 671 00:25:43,741 --> 00:25:45,797 this particular . Yes , we are , the 672 00:25:45,797 --> 00:25:47,908 NSC spoke to that as well that , that 673 00:25:47,908 --> 00:25:50,130 we are engaging with the Swedes on , on 674 00:25:50,130 --> 00:25:52,130 this front , what uh administrative 675 00:25:52,130 --> 00:25:54,297 actions were proposed against him once 676 00:25:54,297 --> 00:25:56,750 he got back to , I would refer you to 677 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:59,369 the army uh for that , for more context . 678 00:25:59,380 --> 00:26:01,939 Um , all I can say is , you know , he 679 00:26:01,949 --> 00:26:04,005 was facing additional administrative 680 00:26:04,005 --> 00:26:07,829 action . Um I do not , I do not . I 681 00:26:07,839 --> 00:26:10,006 would refer you to the army for that . 682 00:26:10,006 --> 00:26:13,000 Who can answer more questions ? Ok . As 683 00:26:13,010 --> 00:26:15,630 a private cavalry scout , he probably 684 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:17,696 wouldn't have had been privy to much 685 00:26:17,696 --> 00:26:19,918 information that North Korea would be , 686 00:26:19,918 --> 00:26:21,918 uh , interested in that . Right ? I 687 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:24,087 mean , we're not , we're , we're not , 688 00:26:24,087 --> 00:26:26,253 that is not our assessment . Um , this 689 00:26:26,253 --> 00:26:28,489 is again , our , something that the 690 00:26:28,500 --> 00:26:30,719 investigation will certainly look into 691 00:26:30,729 --> 00:26:32,840 but , um , that is not our assessment 692 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:35,007 at this time . Right now . Again , our 693 00:26:35,007 --> 00:26:38,030 focus is on bringing him home that he 694 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:40,349 is . Uh , how did you phrase it a , um , 695 00:26:40,359 --> 00:26:43,579 an intelligence liability or , uh , I'm 696 00:26:43,589 --> 00:26:47,555 sorry . Right . Sorry . I 697 00:26:47,564 --> 00:26:49,786 don't remember exactly how Mike phrased 698 00:26:49,786 --> 00:26:52,008 it . Yep . Yep . I'll take two more and 699 00:26:52,008 --> 00:26:54,314 then Louie just to follow up on . Has 700 00:26:54,324 --> 00:26:56,546 there been any other communication with 701 00:26:56,546 --> 00:26:58,768 the family besides the next of kin ? Do 702 00:26:58,768 --> 00:26:58,704 they have a case officer that's staying 703 00:26:58,714 --> 00:27:00,881 in touch with them about this ? That's 704 00:27:00,881 --> 00:27:02,992 really a question for the army . Um , 705 00:27:02,992 --> 00:27:05,103 they are the point of contact for the 706 00:27:05,103 --> 00:27:07,270 family . So I would , I would defer to 707 00:27:07,270 --> 00:27:09,381 them on that . Yeah . Vincent reports 708 00:27:09,381 --> 00:27:11,270 that Ukraine has used the cluster 709 00:27:11,270 --> 00:27:13,158 munitions . The United States has 710 00:27:13,158 --> 00:27:15,492 provided to them . Can you confirm that ? 711 00:27:15,492 --> 00:27:17,603 And , uh , what kind of effect do you 712 00:27:17,603 --> 00:27:17,020 expect that they'll have on the 713 00:27:17,030 --> 00:27:19,310 battlefield if that is the case ? Yeah , 714 00:27:19,319 --> 00:27:21,479 I believe , um , I , I believe they 715 00:27:21,489 --> 00:27:23,711 have started using them , um , in terms 716 00:27:23,711 --> 00:27:25,878 of the effect on the battlefield , I , 717 00:27:25,878 --> 00:27:27,878 I'd really let Ukraine speak to how 718 00:27:27,878 --> 00:27:30,045 they in , um , intend to employ them . 719 00:27:30,045 --> 00:27:31,822 But , uh , you know , this is a 720 00:27:31,822 --> 00:27:33,933 powerful artillery that we have given 721 00:27:33,933 --> 00:27:37,449 them . Um , they have plan , have , 722 00:27:37,459 --> 00:27:40,729 have promised um to or have committed 723 00:27:40,739 --> 00:27:43,709 to use it responsibly to keep track of , 724 00:27:43,719 --> 00:27:46,052 um , and record where they are using it . 725 00:27:46,052 --> 00:27:48,052 So when this war is over , they can 726 00:27:48,052 --> 00:27:50,275 begin those demining efforts . Um But I 727 00:27:50,275 --> 00:27:52,386 would let to Ukraine speak to more of 728 00:27:52,386 --> 00:27:54,441 their operational uses on that front 729 00:27:54,441 --> 00:27:56,219 and these are the ones that are 730 00:27:56,219 --> 00:27:58,163 included that are housed inside of 731 00:27:58,163 --> 00:28:00,219 artillery shells . Is that correct ? 732 00:28:00,219 --> 00:28:02,552 That's right . Yeah . All right . Great . 733 00:28:02,552 --> 00:28:01,709 Thanks . We can wrap it up there .