WEBVTT 00:05.219 --> 00:07.230 Good afternoon . And thank you for 00:07.239 --> 00:09.572 being here today . Ladies and gentlemen , 00:09.572 --> 00:11.795 it's my pleasure to introduce Secretary 00:11.795 --> 00:13.906 of Defense Lloyd J Austin , the Third 00:13.906 --> 00:15.906 and Republic of Korea , Minister of 00:15.906 --> 00:18.159 National Defense Kim Jong Hoon , the 00:18.170 --> 00:20.392 secretary and the minister will deliver 00:20.392 --> 00:22.392 opening remarks and then we'll have 00:22.392 --> 00:24.503 time to take a few questions . Please 00:24.503 --> 00:26.614 note that I will moderate and call on 00:26.614 --> 00:28.614 journalists and with that secretary 00:28.614 --> 00:30.837 Austin over to you , sir . Thanks Pat . 00:30.837 --> 00:32.726 Uh good afternoon , everybody and 00:32.726 --> 00:34.892 thanks for being here . Minister Kim , 00:34.892 --> 00:37.059 let me again . We welcome you and your 00:37.059 --> 00:39.170 team to the Pentagon . It's our honor 00:39.170 --> 00:41.281 to host our allies in the Republic of 00:41.281 --> 00:42.990 Korea for our 56th Security 00:43.000 --> 00:45.979 Consultative meeting . The SCM is the 00:45.990 --> 00:49.590 annual Capstone event for the US Rok 00:49.599 --> 00:51.759 Alliance . It brings our defense 00:51.770 --> 00:54.150 leaders together to tackle shared 00:54.159 --> 00:56.689 challenges and to deepen our friendship 00:56.700 --> 00:59.659 for more than 70 years . Our alliance 00:59.669 --> 01:02.119 has been the foundation of peace and 01:02.130 --> 01:04.860 stability on the Korean Peninsula . Our 01:04.870 --> 01:08.730 two proud democracies share a vision of 01:08.739 --> 01:12.190 a free and open Indo Pacific and we 01:12.199 --> 01:14.143 stand shoulder to shoulder against 01:14.143 --> 01:16.870 those who would upend the status quo . 01:17.940 --> 01:20.059 Now , we're closely tracking the 01:20.069 --> 01:22.900 unprecedented level of direct military 01:23.290 --> 01:26.599 co-operation between Russia and the D 01:26.610 --> 01:29.120 Pr K . In our meetings . Today , we 01:29.129 --> 01:31.500 share our deep concerns about the 01:31.510 --> 01:33.732 deployment of D Pr K troops to Russia . 01:34.220 --> 01:36.442 We also discuss how we're going to work 01:36.442 --> 01:38.790 together with our allies and partners 01:38.860 --> 01:41.330 to respond to this dangerous and 01:41.339 --> 01:44.290 destabilizing escalation . The evidence 01:44.300 --> 01:46.790 now suggests that North Korea has sent 01:46.800 --> 01:48.980 around 10,000 soldiers to train in 01:48.989 --> 01:51.699 eastern Russia and some of these D Pr K 01:51.709 --> 01:54.360 troops have already moved closer to 01:54.370 --> 01:56.540 Ukraine . And we're seeing them 01:56.550 --> 01:59.139 outfitted with Russian uniforms and 01:59.150 --> 02:02.250 provided with Russian equipment . And I 02:02.260 --> 02:05.129 am increasingly concerned that the 02:05.139 --> 02:07.361 Kremlin plans to use these North Korean 02:07.370 --> 02:09.370 soldiers to support Russia's combat 02:09.370 --> 02:12.710 operations in in Russia's Kirk region 02:12.919 --> 02:15.630 near the border with Ukraine . And let 02:15.639 --> 02:19.369 me remind you that Russia signed on to 02:20.789 --> 02:22.900 the UN Security Council resolutions , 02:22.910 --> 02:24.743 agreeing not to provide military 02:24.743 --> 02:27.710 assistance to North Korea . Of course , 02:27.720 --> 02:30.339 we know that Putin has gone 10 cupping 02:30.350 --> 02:32.570 to get weapons from the D . Pr K . And 02:32.580 --> 02:36.279 Iran turning to a pariah 02:36.289 --> 02:38.490 state like North Korea for troops just 02:38.500 --> 02:41.410 underscores how much trouble he is in . 02:42.320 --> 02:45.020 And we take this very seriously , we 02:45.029 --> 02:47.919 urge the Kremlin to change course , we 02:47.929 --> 02:49.630 fully understand the security 02:49.660 --> 02:52.520 implications for both Europe and the 02:52.529 --> 02:56.330 Indo Pacific Putin will 02:56.339 --> 02:59.699 not prevail in Ukraine even with , with 02:59.710 --> 03:03.100 more help from North Korea . But these 03:03.110 --> 03:05.960 deeply concerning developments only 03:05.970 --> 03:07.970 underscore the importance of our 03:08.190 --> 03:11.669 alliance with the rok and other allies 03:11.679 --> 03:13.512 and partners committed to shared 03:13.512 --> 03:16.029 security and prosperity . Now , 03:16.039 --> 03:18.150 Minister Kim and I had an outstanding 03:18.150 --> 03:20.380 meeting today . Our discussions move 03:20.389 --> 03:22.520 the ball forward to modernize and 03:22.529 --> 03:25.410 deepen our alliance that will help 03:25.419 --> 03:28.550 protect the security of the Korean 03:28.559 --> 03:30.670 Peninsula and shape the future of the 03:30.670 --> 03:33.699 Indo Pacific with a sense with a sense 03:33.710 --> 03:36.389 of urgency . We've delivered on a 03:36.399 --> 03:39.130 shared security objectives that we set 03:39.139 --> 03:41.710 forth just a year ago in a defense 03:41.720 --> 03:45.350 vision vision of the US , Rok alliance , 03:46.580 --> 03:48.636 the US Department of Defense and the 03:48.636 --> 03:51.039 Rok Ministry of National Defense signed 03:51.050 --> 03:52.772 the Nuclear Consultative Group 03:52.772 --> 03:55.160 guidelines in July . And later that 03:55.169 --> 03:58.399 month , I traveled to Japan to join a 03:58.410 --> 04:00.559 an historic trilateral ministerial 04:00.570 --> 04:03.860 meeting with the Rok and Japan . It was 04:03.869 --> 04:06.830 held in Tokyo for the first time as 04:06.839 --> 04:09.050 envisioned by the 2023 Camp David 04:09.059 --> 04:12.960 summit . No , I assured Minister Kim 04:12.970 --> 04:15.026 today that the United States remains 04:15.026 --> 04:17.137 fully committed to the defense of the 04:17.137 --> 04:19.089 rok . And our extended deterrence 04:19.100 --> 04:21.649 commitment remains ironclad that 04:21.660 --> 04:24.029 commitment is backed by the full range 04:24.040 --> 04:26.660 of America's conventional missile 04:26.670 --> 04:30.130 defense , nuclear and advanced non 04:30.160 --> 04:32.980 nuclear capabilities . We've also 04:32.989 --> 04:35.230 returned to large scale exercises with 04:35.239 --> 04:38.440 our rok allies and that's strengthening 04:38.450 --> 04:40.172 our combined readiness and our 04:40.172 --> 04:42.640 interoperability . We're also working 04:42.649 --> 04:44.929 together to tackle shared security 04:44.940 --> 04:47.630 challenges across the Indo Pacific . So 04:47.640 --> 04:49.751 today , Minister Kim and I endorsed a 04:49.760 --> 04:51.970 framework to expand our cooper 04:51.980 --> 04:54.230 operation throughout the region based 04:54.239 --> 04:56.017 on our shared values and common 04:56.017 --> 04:58.529 interest . We also discussed the 04:58.540 --> 05:00.596 important role of the United Nations 05:00.596 --> 05:02.096 command which reflects the 05:02.100 --> 05:04.322 international community's long standing 05:04.322 --> 05:06.489 commitment to peace on the peninsula . 05:06.489 --> 05:08.544 And earlier this year , with support 05:08.544 --> 05:11.480 from the Rok , we accepted Germany as 05:11.489 --> 05:14.380 the 18th member state of the UN C . 05:15.000 --> 05:17.049 Moving forward . We'll build on our 05:17.059 --> 05:19.429 momentum and we'll expand the scope and 05:19.440 --> 05:22.059 scale of our cooper operation . We'll 05:22.070 --> 05:23.903 use our strategic advantages and 05:23.903 --> 05:26.369 innovation in our defense in , in our 05:26.380 --> 05:28.649 defense , industrial base to bring 05:28.660 --> 05:30.882 cutting edge tech to our war fighters . 05:31.450 --> 05:33.394 Now , our alliance has always been 05:33.394 --> 05:35.561 rooted in our shared commitment to act 05:35.561 --> 05:37.783 together and the interests that brought 05:37.783 --> 05:39.829 us together seven decades ago have 05:39.839 --> 05:42.600 continued to grow stronger . Today's 05:42.609 --> 05:45.100 discussion again , underscored our 05:45.109 --> 05:46.998 shared vision for this alliance's 05:46.998 --> 05:49.760 future . So Mr Minister Kim , thanks 05:49.769 --> 05:51.991 for your leadership and your commitment 05:52.130 --> 05:54.570 to this proud alliance . We got a lot 05:54.579 --> 05:56.746 done today and I look forward to doing 05:56.746 --> 05:59.500 even more tomorrow in the US rok two 05:59.510 --> 06:01.660 plus two with Secretary Lincoln and 06:01.670 --> 06:04.540 Minister Cho . And thanks very much and 06:04.549 --> 06:06.771 now let me turn it over to Minister Kim 06:18.910 --> 06:21.077 to the Minister of National Defense of 06:21.077 --> 06:23.299 the Republic of Korea , Kim Jong Hyun . 06:24.369 --> 06:26.579 I find it highly meaningful to conduct 06:26.589 --> 06:29.089 my first overseas defense diplomatic 06:29.100 --> 06:31.600 engagements after my inauguration here 06:31.609 --> 06:33.410 at the Pentagon , the heart of 06:33.420 --> 06:36.630 safeguarding liberal democracy . Today 06:36.640 --> 06:40.160 at the Secretary Austin and I review 06:40.170 --> 06:42.230 the work of implementing the defense 06:42.239 --> 06:44.720 vision of the Rock Us Alliance over the 06:44.730 --> 06:48.239 last year . In addition , we reaffirmed 06:48.250 --> 06:50.709 that the Rock Us Alliance remains more 06:50.720 --> 06:53.369 robust than ever even amid complex 06:53.380 --> 06:56.630 international security crisis . While 06:56.640 --> 06:59.029 asserting its theory of hostile two 06:59.040 --> 07:01.750 nations , North Korea continues to 07:01.760 --> 07:03.929 escalate tensions on the Korean 07:03.940 --> 07:06.809 Peninsula through detonation of 07:06.820 --> 07:10.589 sections of Inter Korean roads in order 07:10.600 --> 07:13.339 to deter and respond to D Pr K 07:13.350 --> 07:16.489 provocations and threats . Secretary 07:16.500 --> 07:18.820 Austin and I agreed to maintain an 07:18.829 --> 07:21.630 overwhelming combined defense posture 07:21.839 --> 07:25.149 and engage in close coordinations and 07:25.160 --> 07:29.000 responses in particular . We made it 07:29.010 --> 07:32.190 clear that D Pr K's ongoing practice of 07:32.200 --> 07:34.109 sending filth and trash balloons 07:34.119 --> 07:36.420 constitutes a violation of the army 07:36.559 --> 07:39.220 disagreement and called for an 07:39.230 --> 07:42.730 immediate secession of this activity 07:42.829 --> 07:46.119 with one voice . Furthermore , we 07:46.130 --> 07:48.352 condemned in the strongest terms with a 07:48.352 --> 07:50.463 unified voice , the unlawful military 07:50.463 --> 07:52.519 cooper operation between North Korea 07:52.519 --> 07:55.500 and Russia which directly violates the 07:55.510 --> 07:57.329 rules based order through the 07:57.339 --> 07:59.450 deployment of the North Korean forces 07:59.450 --> 08:02.109 to Russia and arms trade and pledged to 08:02.119 --> 08:04.119 closely work with the international 08:04.119 --> 08:06.609 community . This July , the defense 08:06.619 --> 08:08.619 authorities of Korea and the United 08:08.619 --> 08:10.850 States completed the NCG joint 08:10.859 --> 08:12.581 guidelines through the Nuclear 08:12.581 --> 08:15.119 Consultative Group , thereby elevating 08:15.130 --> 08:17.459 the Rus alliance to an unequivocal 08:17.470 --> 08:19.920 nuclear based alliance building on 08:19.929 --> 08:22.220 these guidelines . Secretary Austin and 08:22.230 --> 08:25.489 I would diligently pursue the NCG tasks 08:25.500 --> 08:27.910 in a subsequent of manner to enhance 08:27.920 --> 08:29.850 the execution capabilities of the 08:29.890 --> 08:31.859 deterrence of Iraq and US s equal 08:31.869 --> 08:34.559 partners . Throughout this process , 08:34.570 --> 08:36.626 the Rock Strategic Command will be a 08:36.626 --> 08:38.737 key unit in the execution of the Iraq 08:38.737 --> 08:40.848 us conventional nuclear integration . 08:40.848 --> 08:44.039 CN I Operations Secretary Austin 08:44.049 --> 08:46.299 reaffirmed the United States unwavering 08:46.309 --> 08:48.580 commitment to providing extended 08:48.590 --> 08:50.757 deterrence to the Republic of Korea by 08:50.757 --> 08:52.534 utilizing the full range of its 08:52.534 --> 08:55.640 military capabilities . In addition , 08:55.770 --> 08:57.640 as tangible evidence of the US 08:57.650 --> 08:59.590 commitment to the defense of the 09:00.469 --> 09:02.650 Secretary Austin reiterated that the 09:02.659 --> 09:04.590 frequency and intensity of the US 09:04.599 --> 09:06.630 strategic asset deployment would be 09:06.640 --> 09:08.859 increased and made regularized in 09:08.869 --> 09:10.758 accordance with President Biden's 09:10.758 --> 09:12.369 commitment in the Washington 09:12.369 --> 09:15.270 Declaration , the and the United States 09:15.280 --> 09:18.239 will further enhance but continue to 09:18.250 --> 09:19.972 further enhance the alliance's 09:19.972 --> 09:22.530 capabilities and posture in response to 09:22.840 --> 09:25.062 the nuclear and missile threats through 09:25.062 --> 09:27.007 implementing combined exercises to 09:27.007 --> 09:29.340 reflect the North Korean nuclear threat . 09:29.664 --> 09:31.775 Secretary Austin and I agreed to 09:31.784 --> 09:34.006 strengthen security cooper operation in 09:34.006 --> 09:36.228 the region based on the respective Indo 09:36.228 --> 09:38.562 pacific strategies of our two countries . 09:38.645 --> 09:40.645 The nuclear and missile threat from 09:40.645 --> 09:42.594 North Korea is now an existential 09:42.604 --> 09:45.234 threat not only to the but also to the 09:45.244 --> 09:48.135 Indo Pacific region . We had a shared 09:48.145 --> 09:50.684 understanding that the US Japan 09:50.695 --> 09:52.945 trilateral security Cooper framework 09:52.955 --> 09:55.085 signed in this July represent a 09:55.094 --> 09:56.984 historic milestone in trilateral 09:56.994 --> 09:59.239 security cooper operation . We will 09:59.250 --> 10:01.580 continue to further and I said in 10:01.590 --> 10:03.880 particular , we highly appreciated the 10:03.890 --> 10:06.112 achievements of freedom and to exercise 10:06.112 --> 10:08.112 the first multi domain training and 10:08.119 --> 10:09.952 have decided to conduct a second 10:09.952 --> 10:11.940 training in the near future . In 10:11.950 --> 10:14.239 today's meeting , Secretary Austin and 10:14.250 --> 10:15.972 I approved the regional Cooper 10:16.000 --> 10:18.109 framework for Rock US alliance 10:18.119 --> 10:20.286 contributions to security in the Inter 10:20.286 --> 10:22.452 Pacific . Demonstrating our commitment 10:22.452 --> 10:24.469 to cooper both domestically and 10:24.479 --> 10:27.380 internationally based on the framework 10:27.390 --> 10:29.690 we will expand the substantive cooper 10:29.830 --> 10:32.309 with ASEAN and Pacific Island nations 10:32.650 --> 10:34.817 announcing the level and burdening the 10:34.817 --> 10:36.650 scope of the Irk US . Alliance . 10:37.099 --> 10:39.429 Secretary Austin and I pledged to 10:39.440 --> 10:41.607 strengthen cooper operation in science 10:41.607 --> 10:43.607 and technology and defense industry 10:43.607 --> 10:45.551 based on the defense vision of the 10:45.551 --> 10:48.169 alliance . We plan to establish a Vice 10:48.179 --> 10:50.401 Minister Level Defense Science and Tech 10:50.705 --> 10:52.927 Executive Committee within this year to 10:52.927 --> 10:55.149 explore the application of cutting edge 10:55.149 --> 10:57.261 science and technology in the defense 10:57.261 --> 10:59.316 sector as well as cooper on all cost 10:59.316 --> 11:01.645 pillar . Two . Furthermore , we 11:01.655 --> 11:03.433 acknowledge the significance of 11:03.433 --> 11:05.488 securing supply chain resilience and 11:05.488 --> 11:07.804 modernizing alliance capabilities and 11:07.815 --> 11:10.155 pledged to engage in active cooper in 11:10.164 --> 11:13.015 the defense industry sector in this 11:13.025 --> 11:15.409 regard . Secretary Austin welcomed 11:15.500 --> 11:18.260 Roc's participation in the US MRO pilot 11:18.270 --> 11:20.760 project and underscore the efforts to 11:20.770 --> 11:22.992 expand cooper operation between our two 11:22.992 --> 11:26.109 countries for more than 70 years . The 11:26.119 --> 11:28.750 Roc Us Alliance has overcome countless 11:28.760 --> 11:31.289 challenges establishing itself as one 11:31.299 --> 11:33.169 of the world's most premier and 11:33.179 --> 11:37.000 exemplary alliances through the 56th 11:37.010 --> 11:38.880 Security Consultative meeting . 11:39.325 --> 11:41.436 Secretary Austin and I reaffirmed our 11:41.436 --> 11:44.335 resolve to leap forward as a stronger 11:44.344 --> 11:46.364 alliance in response to uncertain 11:46.375 --> 11:49.825 future challenges . As the Minister of 11:49.835 --> 11:52.765 National Defense , I will work closely 11:52.775 --> 11:55.294 with Secretary Austin so that the Rock 11:55.304 --> 11:58.025 Us Alliance serves as a linchpin of 11:58.034 --> 12:00.364 peace and stability in the world 12:00.434 --> 12:02.664 extending beyond the Korean Peninsula . 12:03.950 --> 12:06.479 I deeply appreciate Secretary Austin's 12:06.489 --> 12:08.549 active support for the successful 12:08.559 --> 12:11.520 meeting we had . Today we go together , 12:11.659 --> 12:14.789 Katta . Thank you . Thank you very much . 12:14.799 --> 12:16.966 Gentlemen , our first question will go 12:16.966 --> 12:19.729 to Phil Stewart Reuters . So right 12:25.299 --> 12:27.559 to Secretary Austin . How soon do you 12:27.570 --> 12:29.737 believe that North Korean soldiers may 12:29.737 --> 12:31.626 enter the fight against Ukrainian 12:31.626 --> 12:34.250 forces in Kursk ? Are we talking days 12:34.260 --> 12:36.429 or weeks ? And do you believe there's 12:36.440 --> 12:38.496 anything the international community 12:38.496 --> 12:40.662 can still do to stop that deployment ? 12:40.799 --> 12:42.619 And to Minister Kim , does this 12:42.630 --> 12:45.059 deployment increase the risk of war on 12:45.070 --> 12:47.960 the Korean Peninsula ? And does this 12:47.969 --> 12:50.349 change South Korea's willingness to 12:50.359 --> 12:53.539 provide lethal direct aid to Ukraine ? 12:54.010 --> 12:57.619 If not ? Why not ? Well , Phil , 12:57.630 --> 13:00.190 um as you heard me say in my opener , 13:03.599 --> 13:05.766 I'm sorry , I need to translate this . 13:07.190 --> 13:08.190 Uh 13:41.010 --> 13:42.380 uh I uh 14:12.789 --> 14:13.789 and 14:16.859 --> 14:18.859 Phil , as you heard me say , I'm an 14:18.859 --> 14:21.081 opener , we believe that the D Pr K has 14:21.081 --> 14:24.530 sent some 10,000 troops into Eastern 14:24.539 --> 14:27.219 Ukraine and , and they're , they've 14:27.229 --> 14:29.219 been uh drawing equipment and 14:29.229 --> 14:32.020 conducting some training and some of 14:32.030 --> 14:34.141 those troops have begun to make their 14:34.141 --> 14:37.229 way uh towards the border 14:37.450 --> 14:41.130 of Ukraine uh in the Kirk uh 14:41.140 --> 14:44.179 region , whether or not they'll be 14:44.520 --> 14:47.229 employed in the fights left to be seen 14:47.239 --> 14:50.349 yet . But uh certainly if they are 14:50.359 --> 14:53.179 employed , then that's uh that very 14:53.190 --> 14:56.140 disturbing . And so we remain concerned 14:56.150 --> 14:58.317 that they're gonna use these troops in 14:58.317 --> 15:01.190 combat . I won't speculate on the 15:01.200 --> 15:03.520 timing of uh employment . Again , this 15:03.530 --> 15:05.586 is something we're gonna continue to 15:05.586 --> 15:07.752 watch and we're gonna continue to work 15:07.752 --> 15:10.409 with allies and partners to uh uh to 15:11.260 --> 15:14.359 discourage um Russia from employing 15:14.369 --> 15:17.000 these troops in , in combat . Um , 15:17.010 --> 15:20.840 again , this is a , a violation of , uh , 15:21.309 --> 15:23.539 of the UN , security , uh , uh , 15:23.549 --> 15:25.880 agreement . So , um , 15:27.270 --> 15:29.492 this is , uh , this is pretty serious . 15:29.780 --> 15:31.836 Uh , again , we're gonna continue to 15:31.836 --> 15:34.002 watch it and continue to work with our 15:34.002 --> 15:36.530 allies and partners to , uh , uh , to 15:36.539 --> 15:39.150 discourage it so that , 15:40.799 --> 15:41.239 uh , 17:00.669 --> 17:04.540 to be clear , violation of UN sanctions . 17:08.329 --> 17:10.440 I'm sorry , I thought you said deploy 17:10.440 --> 17:12.810 to Eastern . Did you mean Eastern 17:12.819 --> 17:15.041 Ukraine or Eastern Russia that they had 17:15.041 --> 17:16.986 deployed to , they had deployed to 17:16.986 --> 17:18.875 Eastern Russia and then they're , 17:18.875 --> 17:20.986 they're making their way west towards 17:20.986 --> 17:23.319 the Ukrainian border . Sorry about that . 17:23.319 --> 17:22.810 Uh 17:53.160 --> 17:54.160 Yeah . 17:56.640 --> 17:57.579 Uh 18:00.540 --> 18:05.400 PP 18:06.810 --> 18:08.921 I would like to answer the question . 18:09.079 --> 18:11.579 I'd like to , I'd like to answer the 18:11.589 --> 18:14.270 question regarding the increase in the 18:14.280 --> 18:16.500 possibility of war breaking out on the 18:16.510 --> 18:18.566 Korean Peninsula following the North 18:18.566 --> 18:20.699 Korean troops deployment to Russia . 18:35.770 --> 18:38.609 No , I do not necessarily believe that 18:38.619 --> 18:40.730 the North Korean troops deployment to 18:40.730 --> 18:42.786 Russia results in the changes in the 18:42.786 --> 18:44.952 possibility of war breaking out on the 18:44.952 --> 18:47.119 Korean Peninsula . However , I believe 18:47.119 --> 18:49.175 this can result in the escalation of 18:49.175 --> 18:51.119 the security threats on the Korean 18:51.119 --> 18:50.550 Peninsula . 19:02.969 --> 19:04.747 This is because there is a high 19:04.747 --> 19:06.525 possibility that North Korea in 19:06.525 --> 19:08.580 exchange for their troops deployment 19:08.580 --> 19:10.691 would ask for cutting edge technology 19:10.691 --> 19:11.913 technology transfer . 19:16.619 --> 19:19.859 Uh IC PM beside 19:21.359 --> 19:25.270 Ka Ku , uh 19:34.979 --> 19:37.090 there's a high chance that they would 19:37.090 --> 19:39.035 in exchange for their deployment . 19:39.035 --> 19:41.400 North Korea is very likely to ask for 19:41.410 --> 19:43.939 uh technology transfers in diverse 19:43.949 --> 19:46.109 areas including the technologies 19:46.119 --> 19:48.180 relating to uh technical nuclear 19:48.189 --> 19:50.400 weapons , uh technologies related to 19:50.410 --> 19:53.060 their advancement of ICBM . Also those 19:53.069 --> 19:55.236 regarding reconnaissance satellite and 19:55.236 --> 19:57.979 those regarding SSB NS as well . Yeah , 20:04.530 --> 20:05.530 uh uh sh uh 20:09.119 --> 20:11.180 there's also a high chance that they 20:11.189 --> 20:13.245 will try to replace their equipments 20:13.245 --> 20:15.400 that have been um taken a lot of time 20:15.410 --> 20:17.521 that so therefore all technologies or 20:17.521 --> 20:18.420 equipments , I 20:28.260 --> 20:30.300 believe such changes in the 20:30.310 --> 20:32.477 technological situation of North Korea 20:32.477 --> 20:35.890 can pose an increase in the escalation 20:35.900 --> 20:37.789 of security threats on the Korean 20:37.789 --> 20:37.729 Peninsula . 20:51.040 --> 20:53.262 However , one thing to consider is that 20:53.262 --> 20:55.484 we , as we have witnessed in the Russia 20:55.484 --> 20:57.709 Ukraine war , the conventional weapon 20:57.719 --> 21:00.060 capability capabilities of Russia is 21:00.069 --> 21:02.540 not as formidable as we expected it to 21:02.550 --> 21:03.550 be . 21:09.400 --> 21:10.400 Uh 21:19.199 --> 21:20.199 uh 21:29.010 --> 21:31.449 therefore , even with the possibility 21:31.459 --> 21:33.510 of Russia's cutting edge technology 21:33.520 --> 21:36.390 flowing into North Korea and thereby 21:36.400 --> 21:38.511 resulting in the advancement of North 21:38.511 --> 21:40.733 Korea's military technology . I believe 21:40.733 --> 21:42.900 it is possible for us to overcome such 21:42.900 --> 21:45.380 challenges based on our robust alliance 21:45.560 --> 21:47.750 and rock us Japan trilateral secu 21:47.849 --> 21:50.819 security cooper . And through these 21:50.829 --> 21:52.996 cooperations , I believe we can secure 21:53.030 --> 21:55.170 enough and sufficient capability in 21:55.180 --> 21:56.958 order to overcome such security 21:56.958 --> 21:57.958 challenges . 22:09.719 --> 22:12.760 In short . Um I would rather see the 22:12.770 --> 22:15.459 results or impacts of the deployment as 22:15.589 --> 22:18.219 an increase . Uh that can result , I 22:18.229 --> 22:20.670 believe uh the deployment can result in 22:20.680 --> 22:22.624 the security threats on the Korean 22:22.624 --> 22:24.680 Peninsula . And it could also have a 22:24.680 --> 22:26.902 destabilizing impact on the security of 22:26.902 --> 22:29.069 Korean Peninsula . But I don't believe 22:29.069 --> 22:31.124 it is going to be any changes in the 22:31.124 --> 22:33.291 possibility of war breaking out on the 22:33.291 --> 22:35.430 Korean Peninsula . Our next question 22:35.439 --> 22:37.520 will go to Ji Hoon Kim Yonhap news 22:37.530 --> 22:38.079 agency . 23:25.030 --> 23:27.469 It is reporter Kim from Yon A agency 23:27.479 --> 23:29.646 and I have 1st , 1st I have a question 23:29.646 --> 23:32.609 to , uh , directed to Minister Kim , uh , 23:32.619 --> 23:34.819 last year's , uh , munition deal 23:34.829 --> 23:37.219 between Korea's , um , Cooper operation 23:37.229 --> 23:39.449 and the United States is an exemplary 23:39.459 --> 23:42.250 case where you , where Korea was able 23:42.260 --> 23:44.920 to provide support toward uh United 23:44.930 --> 23:46.986 States in accordance with the Mutual 23:46.986 --> 23:49.208 defense Treaty . And , um , do you have 23:49.208 --> 23:51.459 any additional plans to give a , um , 23:51.469 --> 23:54.050 support to indirect support to Ukraine 23:54.060 --> 23:57.319 by um , supplying and um , supplying 23:57.329 --> 23:59.385 munitions to the United States in an 23:59.385 --> 24:01.607 indirect way . And also there's another 24:01.607 --> 24:03.551 question about the trash and filth 24:03.551 --> 24:05.729 balloons . Uh Korea has been showing 24:05.739 --> 24:08.329 consistently , um , the kind of 24:08.339 --> 24:11.719 response , um Korea has been showing 24:11.729 --> 24:13.840 response such as collecting the trash 24:13.840 --> 24:16.062 balloons after they were dropped on the 24:16.062 --> 24:18.285 territory of Korean Peninsula or , um , 24:18.285 --> 24:20.650 they have consistently asked , uh , 24:20.660 --> 24:23.430 North Korea to seize the release of um , 24:23.439 --> 24:25.520 trash balloons . Do you have any 24:25.530 --> 24:27.752 additional measures in order to respond 24:27.752 --> 24:30.579 to such release of trash or um , filth 24:30.589 --> 24:32.645 balloons from North Korea ? And this 24:32.645 --> 24:34.422 question , the last question is 24:34.422 --> 24:37.099 directed to both Minister Kim and 24:37.109 --> 24:39.469 Secretary Austin . Uh North Korea has 24:39.479 --> 24:41.520 consistently shown their anti 24:41.640 --> 24:44.199 humanitarian provocations . Um , do you 24:44.209 --> 24:47.030 have any messages um , in mind that you 24:47.040 --> 24:49.150 can deliver to Kim Jong Un in North 24:49.160 --> 24:49.550 Korea 25:26.670 --> 25:27.670 uh uh 25:49.050 --> 25:50.050 uh 25:50.920 --> 25:54.040 PB tech . 25:58.449 --> 25:59.449 Uh 26:34.359 --> 26:35.949 uh Ya . 26:57.609 --> 26:58.609 So 27:02.199 --> 27:05.839 Iya Malo , Pan Yune , yo , Pan P 27:06.819 --> 27:08.609 yo , Chen Jian PJ . 27:11.800 --> 27:15.130 Hey , y 27:16.420 --> 27:17.079 uh 27:34.800 --> 27:35.800 Kanya . 27:39.229 --> 27:41.540 So the first question about uh munition 27:41.550 --> 27:43.550 supply to United States , I have to 27:43.560 --> 27:45.727 give you an answer that at the current 27:45.727 --> 27:47.782 moment , nothing is determined . And 27:47.782 --> 27:49.949 for your second question about Korea's 27:49.949 --> 27:52.010 response to North Korea's release of 27:52.020 --> 27:54.989 trash and filth balloons . Um Today in 27:55.000 --> 27:57.680 today's meeting , um Secretary Austin 27:57.689 --> 27:59.939 and I have confirmed that um the 28:00.349 --> 28:02.516 deployment of trash and filth balloons 28:02.516 --> 28:05.050 are a violation of Armistice Agreement . 28:05.260 --> 28:08.729 And as the release of trash and filth 28:08.739 --> 28:11.869 balloons is a provocation that poses a 28:11.880 --> 28:14.719 safety threat to our people . We have 28:14.729 --> 28:18.050 been um using the response of first 28:18.060 --> 28:20.489 identifying and then tracking and then 28:20.500 --> 28:22.667 after we found out the location of the 28:22.667 --> 28:24.889 dropping and then we checked if there's 28:24.889 --> 28:27.130 any biological or chemical weapons in 28:27.140 --> 28:29.362 it . After we have gone through all the 28:29.362 --> 28:31.307 tests , then we collected those um 28:31.307 --> 28:34.094 balloons . Um These measures were taken 28:34.104 --> 28:36.375 under our assessment that this is the 28:36.425 --> 28:38.655 best and most optimal way of 28:38.665 --> 28:41.574 guaranteeing and um confirming the 28:41.584 --> 28:43.895 safety of our people and that this is 28:43.905 --> 28:45.961 the way to protect our people in our 28:45.961 --> 28:49.035 best way . However , um North Korea is 28:49.045 --> 28:51.515 crossing the line with various methods 28:51.525 --> 28:53.854 of provocations and we are open to all 28:53.864 --> 28:55.864 alternative when it comes to the re 28:55.864 --> 28:58.031 when it comes to our response to North 28:58.031 --> 29:00.290 Korea's provocation . On your third 29:00.300 --> 29:02.890 question . Uh I recall it was uh if I 29:02.900 --> 29:05.650 have any message um toward um that I 29:05.660 --> 29:08.349 have to Kim Jong Un . Um I believe the 29:08.359 --> 29:10.050 essence of North Korean troop 29:10.060 --> 29:12.209 deployment is the possibility of 29:12.219 --> 29:15.150 expansion of the war . And this results 29:15.160 --> 29:17.271 uh from the intervention of the third 29:17.280 --> 29:20.300 party which is North Korea . And such 29:20.310 --> 29:22.359 possibility is resulting in grave 29:22.369 --> 29:24.290 concerns of European countries 29:24.300 --> 29:28.209 including Ukraine . And um the 29:28.219 --> 29:31.790 deployment is um North 29:31.800 --> 29:34.380 Korea is joining the collusion of 29:34.390 --> 29:36.550 Russia's illegal aggression and 29:36.560 --> 29:39.369 invasion . And therefore , I , I see 29:39.380 --> 29:41.530 that the deployment is Kim Jong Un's 29:41.540 --> 29:44.630 attempt to maintain its dictatorship . 29:44.640 --> 29:46.473 And Kim Jong Un doesn't , didn't 29:46.473 --> 29:48.584 hesitate to sell out its young people 29:48.589 --> 29:51.550 and troops as canon father mercenaries . 29:52.520 --> 29:54.869 I believe such activities is a war 29:54.880 --> 29:56.449 crime that is not only anti 29:56.459 --> 29:59.170 humanitarian but also anti peaceful . 29:59.489 --> 30:03.449 Therefore , uh I would like to strongly 30:03.459 --> 30:06.199 condemn the activity of Kim Jong Un . 30:07.040 --> 30:09.510 And um I believe all responsibility 30:09.520 --> 30:11.464 from the results of the deployment 30:11.464 --> 30:14.489 belong to Kim Jong Un . We call for Kim 30:14.500 --> 30:16.611 Jong Un's immediate withdrawal of his 30:16.611 --> 30:18.722 troops in our strongest terms . Thank 30:18.722 --> 30:19.722 you . 30:22.479 --> 30:24.810 Thank you for the question . I I don't 30:24.819 --> 30:27.630 have any messages for the leadership of 30:27.640 --> 30:31.140 uh D Pr K . I call upon them to cease 30:31.150 --> 30:33.819 their potentially destabilizing 30:34.130 --> 30:37.969 behavior in both uh the Indo Pacific 30:37.979 --> 30:41.500 region and now in uh in the European 30:41.510 --> 30:44.780 theater as well . Um And like uh 30:45.219 --> 30:47.729 my colleague here , uh Minister Kim , 30:48.170 --> 30:51.380 uh I call upon them to withdraw their 30:51.390 --> 30:53.630 troops out of uh out of Russia . It 30:53.640 --> 30:56.270 does have the potential of lengthening 30:56.280 --> 30:58.989 the conflict or broadening the conflict . 30:59.000 --> 31:00.880 Uh If uh if that continues , 31:32.020 --> 31:33.020 uh 31:43.380 --> 31:45.491 our next question will go to Courtney 31:45.491 --> 31:48.469 Qy NBC . Thank you . Uh Mr Secretary , 31:48.479 --> 31:50.590 you , you told Phil that you , the US 31:50.590 --> 31:52.757 will continue to watch this deployment 31:52.859 --> 31:55.081 and work with allies to discourage it . 31:55.081 --> 31:57.248 But how specifically can the US or the 31:57.248 --> 31:59.470 international community actually stop ? 31:59.470 --> 32:01.581 Is there anything the US can do ? And 32:01.581 --> 32:03.637 you just said that um that this does 32:03.637 --> 32:05.748 have the potential for broadening the 32:05.748 --> 32:07.915 conflict ? Does that mean that you see 32:07.915 --> 32:09.970 the possibility that if , if in fact 32:09.970 --> 32:09.939 Russian troops are fighting alongside 32:09.949 --> 32:12.060 North Korean troops , that that means 32:12.060 --> 32:14.300 other countries could send troops 32:14.310 --> 32:16.530 perhaps even to fight alongside the 32:16.540 --> 32:18.829 Ukrainians in an advisory level or 32:18.839 --> 32:20.895 fighting or anything . And then just 32:20.895 --> 32:23.006 one more , this is my real question . 32:23.006 --> 32:25.172 Those are follow ups . Um My , my real 32:25.172 --> 32:27.117 question is just what happens when 32:27.117 --> 32:29.172 North Korean troops are killed by US 32:29.172 --> 32:31.510 provided weapons . And then Minister 32:31.520 --> 32:32.829 Kim . Um 32:34.560 --> 32:38.310 um do you see any 32:38.319 --> 32:40.250 signs that North Korea plans to 32:40.260 --> 32:42.550 interfere in the US elections ? We , 32:42.589 --> 32:45.010 your your Dia said today that D pr K 32:45.020 --> 32:47.760 may be ready to launch an ICBM per 32:47.770 --> 32:50.750 perhaps a nuclear weapon ? Is there any 32:50.760 --> 32:53.229 indication that that could be or other 32:53.239 --> 32:55.350 actions that they may be taking could 32:55.350 --> 32:57.461 be specifically to interfere with the 32:57.461 --> 32:59.628 US election ? Thank you . You only get 32:59.628 --> 32:58.819 one 33:06.209 --> 33:07.209 uh 33:30.060 --> 33:31.060 uh 34:05.920 --> 34:06.920 um 34:31.999 --> 34:35.319 ti A . 34:55.350 --> 34:59.189 So Courtney , um the first of your 20 34:59.199 --> 35:01.989 questions here was uh whether or not we 35:02.000 --> 35:05.229 can stop the D pr K from sending troops . 35:05.810 --> 35:09.439 Um We certainly can work with others to 35:09.449 --> 35:11.227 discourage this uh this kind of 35:11.227 --> 35:14.500 behavior . Um But I didn't , didn't 35:14.510 --> 35:16.621 mean to imply that we can stop that . 35:16.621 --> 35:18.840 Uh But certainly their actions have 35:18.850 --> 35:20.840 consequences as all actions have 35:20.850 --> 35:22.683 consequences and they need to be 35:22.683 --> 35:26.360 mindful of that . Um In 35:26.370 --> 35:28.203 terms of what could happen , you 35:28.203 --> 35:31.260 mentioned my reference to potentially 35:31.610 --> 35:33.729 broadening this conflict . Yes , it 35:33.739 --> 35:37.080 could encourage uh uh others to uh to , 35:37.689 --> 35:40.209 to take action um different kinds of 35:40.219 --> 35:43.070 action . Um But I won't speculate on , 35:43.080 --> 35:45.709 on what could exactly happen . But we , 35:45.989 --> 35:48.045 there , there are a number of things 35:48.045 --> 35:50.267 that could happen . Um And what happens 35:50.267 --> 35:53.820 when D Pr K soldiers are killed uh with 35:53.830 --> 35:57.459 us provided weapons . Well , if the D 35:57.469 --> 36:00.379 Pr K soldiers are fighting alongside 36:00.729 --> 36:03.560 Russian soldiers in this conflict and 36:03.570 --> 36:07.510 attacking um Ukrainian soldiers , 36:07.520 --> 36:09.576 Ukrainian soldiers have the right to 36:09.576 --> 36:11.798 defend themselves and they will do that 36:11.798 --> 36:13.870 um with the weapons that we provided 36:13.879 --> 36:16.046 and others have provided . Uh that's , 36:16.046 --> 36:18.290 that's to be expected . But if they are 36:18.300 --> 36:21.199 fighting alongside of uh of Russian 36:21.209 --> 36:23.840 soldiers , they are co belligerents and 36:24.330 --> 36:26.441 you have every reason to believe that 36:26.441 --> 36:28.608 those kinds of things will happen that 36:28.608 --> 36:30.830 they will be killed and wounded as a as 36:30.830 --> 36:34.399 a result of battle . So yeah , 38:40.060 --> 38:42.282 20 questions to secretary as , but only 38:42.282 --> 38:45.060 one for me be him . 38:46.699 --> 38:47.699 Kit . 38:58.340 --> 39:00.007 So on your question about the 39:00.007 --> 39:02.118 possibility that North Korea attempts 39:02.118 --> 39:04.007 to interfere with us presidential 39:04.007 --> 39:06.118 election . Uh My short answer is that 39:06.118 --> 39:07.784 the possibility is not high . 39:21.010 --> 39:23.709 Uh I believe uh there isn't a high 39:23.719 --> 39:26.209 chance of them attempting to interfere 39:26.219 --> 39:28.441 with the election . However , I believe 39:28.441 --> 39:30.608 there is a high chance that they would 39:30.608 --> 39:32.552 want to exaggerate their existence 39:32.552 --> 39:34.608 around the season of us presidential 39:34.608 --> 39:36.775 election before and after the election 39:36.860 --> 39:40.020 to Kung . I 39:45.879 --> 39:48.550 um the expected courses of action that 39:48.560 --> 39:51.030 North Korea could take uh in their 39:51.040 --> 39:54.290 attempt to provoke could be uh either 39:54.479 --> 39:57.010 their launch of ICBM or their seventh 39:57.020 --> 39:58.149 nuclear tests . 40:01.100 --> 40:03.100 Our final question will go to Ji Ho 40:03.100 --> 40:04.100 Yang Cho . 41:08.379 --> 41:11.120 This is Reporter Yang from Joan Daily . 41:11.129 --> 41:13.639 First . I have a question to Minister 41:13.649 --> 41:16.639 Kim . Um the , the main opposition 41:16.649 --> 41:19.280 party of Republic of Korea has 41:19.290 --> 41:21.959 expressed their opposition to um 41:21.969 --> 41:24.770 Korea's dispatch of analysis team and 41:24.780 --> 41:27.699 Korean delegation to Ukraine . So um 41:27.709 --> 41:30.042 from your perspective , uh Minister Kim , 41:30.042 --> 41:32.080 what do you think is the role that 41:32.090 --> 41:34.439 Korean military can play in Ukraine ? 41:34.909 --> 41:36.899 And uh I have another , I have a 41:36.909 --> 41:39.510 question to uh Secretary Austin . So it 41:39.520 --> 41:41.989 is my understanding that uh the current 41:42.000 --> 41:44.449 uh assessment of the United States dod 41:44.459 --> 41:47.290 is that North Korea did deploy troops 41:47.300 --> 41:50.850 to Ukraine to Russia . However , they 41:50.860 --> 41:53.389 were not involved in any combats at the 41:53.399 --> 41:55.780 moment . So , um however , some are 41:55.790 --> 41:59.280 claiming that North Korean troops that 41:59.545 --> 42:02.825 are , are already being deployed are 42:02.835 --> 42:05.055 being al are already being in uh 42:05.065 --> 42:07.605 engagement . So like what would be your 42:07.615 --> 42:10.926 standard to determine whether um the 42:10.936 --> 42:13.345 participation of these North Korean 42:13.355 --> 42:15.946 troops will be deployment or actual 42:15.956 --> 42:18.075 participation in combat operations . 42:18.226 --> 42:22.031 And also um you have uh us dod has also 42:22.041 --> 42:24.711 made a statement that the North Korean 42:24.721 --> 42:27.751 troops who are in Russia will also be 42:28.241 --> 42:30.531 classified as enemies that can be 42:30.541 --> 42:34.511 attacked by uh by us weapons that are 42:34.521 --> 42:37.672 supplied to Ukraine . So , um could you 42:37.681 --> 42:39.991 give a little more elaboration on this 42:40.001 --> 42:42.610 statement ? This concludes my question . 42:45.179 --> 42:46.679 Yeah , good . 42:59.000 --> 43:00.000 Uh uh 43:12.449 --> 43:15.030 So uh I recall the question was about 43:15.040 --> 43:17.979 our observers and monitoring teams of 43:17.989 --> 43:20.340 Korea that are , that are and could be 43:20.350 --> 43:23.280 sent to Ukraine . So uh uh throughout 43:23.290 --> 43:25.399 the history and many different wars 43:25.409 --> 43:27.919 including the Iraq war , there have 43:27.929 --> 43:30.250 been many cases where we have sent uh 43:30.330 --> 43:33.330 monitoring teams or uh lesson learned 43:33.340 --> 43:35.562 analysis team to the countries that are 43:35.562 --> 43:38.969 currently at war and war . Good . 43:58.979 --> 43:59.979 You 44:08.350 --> 44:11.250 um the role of such observers or 44:11.260 --> 44:14.649 analysis team play in the war is a 44:14.659 --> 44:17.250 mainly analysis of the trends of the 44:17.260 --> 44:19.939 modern warfare or different aspects of 44:19.949 --> 44:22.469 modern , modern warfare and especially 44:22.479 --> 44:24.770 as we have confirmed , North Korean 44:24.780 --> 44:26.870 troops were deployed to Russia . I 44:26.879 --> 44:28.889 believe it could serve as a great , 44:28.899 --> 44:31.290 great opportunity for our analysis team 44:31.300 --> 44:34.379 or observer to learn the movements or 44:34.389 --> 44:36.489 trends of the North Korean troops 45:04.850 --> 45:08.340 um in many uh wars uh there , uh we 45:08.350 --> 45:10.790 have witnessed many new and diverse 45:10.800 --> 45:13.820 weapon system uh continuously popping 45:13.830 --> 45:16.149 up . And also we were able to witness 45:16.159 --> 45:18.550 many different modern tactics in the 45:18.560 --> 45:21.629 war . Uh I believe if we can um collect 45:21.639 --> 45:24.500 such information uh diligently and then 45:24.510 --> 45:28.149 utilize it for our future um safety of 45:28.540 --> 45:31.139 and stability of our country . I 45:31.149 --> 45:34.010 believe it can serve as an opportunity 45:34.020 --> 45:36.879 for us to provide better uh protection 45:36.889 --> 45:38.889 toward um the people of Republic of 45:38.889 --> 45:39.889 Korea . 45:49.100 --> 45:50.100 Uh 46:00.399 --> 46:02.959 I believe it is an obvious task that 46:02.969 --> 46:06.100 our military should play to send 46:06.110 --> 46:08.310 observers and analysis team to the 46:08.320 --> 46:11.469 Russia Ukraine war . And I , I would 46:11.479 --> 46:13.780 even say that if we don't send our 46:13.790 --> 46:15.939 observers or analysis team , it would 46:15.949 --> 46:18.060 mean that we are not faith faithfully 46:18.060 --> 46:19.060 doing our jobs . 46:22.550 --> 46:25.570 So thank you for your question . Um 46:26.360 --> 46:28.582 As I understand it , the first question 46:28.582 --> 46:30.416 was , what was our , what is our 46:30.416 --> 46:32.749 standard for determining whether or not , 46:32.749 --> 46:35.270 um , the D pr K troops are actually 46:35.280 --> 46:38.030 fighting or in the fight ? And the 46:38.040 --> 46:40.262 second question was whether or not they 46:40.262 --> 46:43.360 can be engaged with uh us weapons . 46:44.320 --> 46:47.489 So I , I think standards pretty , 46:47.500 --> 46:50.070 pretty easy . Uh If they're fighting , 46:50.370 --> 46:52.300 if they're attacking uh Ukrainian 46:52.310 --> 46:54.254 soldiers and they're , they are co 46:54.254 --> 46:56.366 belligerents . They're a part of this 46:56.366 --> 46:58.477 fight . That's , uh , that's , that's 46:58.477 --> 47:00.979 fairly easy to determine . Um , and 47:00.989 --> 47:03.156 it's , it's not certain that they will 47:03.156 --> 47:06.949 be introduced into uh this fight , but , 47:06.959 --> 47:10.600 uh , but clearly , uh 10,000 soldiers 47:10.989 --> 47:12.822 and some of them are moving west 47:12.822 --> 47:14.822 towards the Ukrainian border . Then 47:15.239 --> 47:17.239 there's a good likelihood that they 47:17.239 --> 47:19.500 will be employed . Um , but we'll see , 47:19.510 --> 47:21.454 we won't speculate , we'll , we'll 47:21.454 --> 47:24.060 collect evidence . But , um , 47:27.209 --> 47:30.179 they're doing this because Putin has 47:30.189 --> 47:33.520 lost a lot of troops , a lot of troops 47:34.350 --> 47:37.050 and , you know , he has a choice of 47:37.060 --> 47:39.459 either getting other people to help him 47:39.830 --> 47:41.997 or he can mobilize and he doesn't want 47:41.997 --> 47:44.510 to mobilize because then the people in 47:44.520 --> 47:47.290 Russia will begin to understand the 47:47.300 --> 47:49.850 extent of his losses of their losses . 47:51.229 --> 47:53.451 So there's a good likelihood that these 47:53.451 --> 47:55.790 troops will be introduced in a combat , 47:55.800 --> 47:57.744 not certain , but that I think the 47:57.744 --> 48:00.280 likelihood is pretty high , but this is 48:00.290 --> 48:02.780 not a sign of strength . It's a sign of 48:02.790 --> 48:05.979 weakness . Putin has not achieved one 48:05.989 --> 48:09.350 strategic objective in 2.5 years 48:09.370 --> 48:12.010 against a force that was far inferior 48:12.020 --> 48:15.060 to , to his force . That's a sign of 48:15.070 --> 48:17.209 weakness . Again , he's gone to other 48:17.219 --> 48:19.570 countries for weapons and munitions and 48:19.580 --> 48:23.179 now he's going to other countries for 48:23.189 --> 48:26.850 people . And as I said 48:26.860 --> 48:30.729 earlier , um , if they are 48:30.739 --> 48:32.860 fighting and they're co belligerent , 48:33.270 --> 48:35.820 they're attacking Ukrainian troops and 48:35.830 --> 48:38.060 the Ukrainian troops have the right to 48:38.070 --> 48:40.181 defend themselves . And we have every 48:40.181 --> 48:42.350 expectation that they will , they'll 48:42.360 --> 48:44.527 use their own weapons . They , they'll 48:44.527 --> 48:46.416 use the weapons that they've been 48:46.416 --> 48:48.527 provided and you know that that won't 48:48.527 --> 48:50.870 be a surprise to anyone , but this 48:50.879 --> 48:54.129 doesn't have to happen . Putin can end 48:54.139 --> 48:56.939 this war today . It was his choice to 48:56.949 --> 48:59.780 launch this war , he's not achieved his 48:59.790 --> 49:02.012 objectives . He can end this war and he 49:02.012 --> 49:05.909 should end this war . Otherwise we'll 49:05.919 --> 49:09.310 see a lot more losses on both sides and 49:09.320 --> 49:13.159 that's really highly unnecessary . But 49:13.169 --> 49:17.120 I think uh in terms of our 49:17.139 --> 49:19.195 standards for determining whether or 49:19.195 --> 49:21.820 not , you know , they're , they're 49:21.830 --> 49:23.830 fighting , they're in the fight . I 49:23.830 --> 49:26.108 think it'll be pretty , pretty easy to , 49:26.108 --> 49:27.780 to determine that . Ok , 52:53.669 --> 52:55.780 Secretary Austin Minister Kim . Thank 52:55.780 --> 52:57.669 you . Both gentlemen , ladies and 52:57.669 --> 52:59.891 gentlemen , that's all the time we have 52:59.891 --> 52:59.300 available today . This concludes our 52:59.310 --> 53:01.810 press briefing . Thank you . I love it 53:03.879 --> 53:04.459 next to .