Deputy Pentagon Chief Nominee Urges Action Against North Korea’s Nuclear Expansion

Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for deputy defense secretary underscored the urgent need to curb North Korea's nuclear and missile development during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing. Stephen Feinberg emphasized that the North Korean regime poses a substantial threat to security on the Korean Peninsula and globally.According to Yonhap News Agency, Feinberg highlighted North Korea's persistent focus on advancing its nuclear weapons program and enhancing its ballistic and cruise missile capabilities. He stressed the importance of improving missile defense systems to counter these threats and expressed concerns over North Korea's expanding cyber activities.Feinberg echoed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's views on the significant expansion and modernization of nuclear capabilities by North Korea, China, and Russia. He cautioned that advancements in warheads, delivery systems, and command and control systems present an increasing threat to the United States and its allie s.The nominee also drew attention to North Korea's recent deployment of combat forces to Russia and its longstanding chemical and biological weapons capabilities, describing them as ongoing threats. He noted the growing threats from North Korea and Iran in the contested space domain and pledged to counter hostile uses of space.On the topic of China's military ambitions, Feinberg identified a potential Chinese attempt to seize Taiwan by force as the most significant threat facing the Pentagon. He warned that a successful invasion could severely impact U.S. trade, alliances, and global influence. Feinberg highlighted Chinese President Xi Jinping's goal of annexing Taiwan by 2027 and China's ongoing military buildup as indicators of a significant and growing threat.Stephen Feinberg is a co-founder of Cerberus Capital Management and previously chaired the Intelligence Oversight Board and the President's Intelligence Advisory Board during Trump's first term.