{"id":49461,"date":"2017-09-18T20:10:54","date_gmt":"2017-09-18T20:10:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/09\/18\/mattis-use-of-tactical-nuclear-weapons-discussed-with-south-korea\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:54:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:54:37","slug":"mattis-use-of-tactical-nuclear-weapons-discussed-with-south-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2017\/09\/18\/mattis-use-of-tactical-nuclear-weapons-discussed-with-south-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"Mattis: Use of tactical nuclear weapons discussed with South Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2013 Defense Secretary Jim Mattis confirmed Monday that the U.S. and South Korea have discussed employing tactical nuclear weapons as an option to defend against North Korea\u2019s nuclear weapons program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The acknowledgment from Mattis comes as the U.S. and international community grapple with increasingly aggressive nuclear weapons testing by North Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the last few weeks, North Korea has tested an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland and tested a hydrogen bomb, according to U.S. Strategic Command\u2019s assessment of the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last Thursday, as Mattis was at STRATCOM assessing the U.S. nuclear posture, North Korea fired another intermediate range missile over Japan, sending millions of Japanese citizens into shelters.<\/p>\n\n\n\t