Ryder on Korea missile Drills and allied calls

Oct 4, 2022

Pat Ryder condemns North Korea’s ballistic missile overflight of Japan and reports two October 4 local-time responses: U.S. Marine Corps fighters exercising with Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force over the Sea of Japan, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and South Korean personnel exercising over the West Sea. He describes their purpose as deterrence, strike capability and allied interoperability, and reports Secretary Austin’s separate calls with Japanese and South Korean counterparts condemning the launch and reaffirming defense commitments. In successive questions he says the missile type, impact point and range are still being assessed, confirms there was no attempt to intercept it, and declines an accuracy assessment. An unidentified reporter supplies a 4,600-kilometre flight estimate; Ryder does not independently confirm that figure. He tentatively agrees with a reporter’s description of a second overflight but says he would need to check. Asked about a possible seventh nuclear test, he cites earlier test-site indications without predicting a test and warns it would be a grave escalation. He says denuclearization remains U.S. policy, refers diplomatic questions to State and calls for an end to destabilizing launches. Asked about USS Ronald Reagan, he says it has departed South Korea but does not disclose future movements. In the final return he explains that flying together and the ability to conduct precision strikes demonstrate allied capability, in response to a question about JDAMs. No new carrier deployment, additional asset deployment or completed nuclear test is confirmed. The final combined exchange also retains the brief Saudi-counterpart-call question and Ryder's promise of a readout before he returns to the Korean exercise answer.

North Korea launches a ballistic missile that overflies Japan on October 4, 2022 local time. Ryder condemns the launch at the Pentagon and says missile type, impact point and range remain under assessment. He confirms no U.S. attempt to intercept it and declines a precision assessment. A reporter cites a 4,600-kilometre flight; that is not Ryder’s confirmed measurement. His tentative agreement with a reporter’s second-overflight description is expressly subject to checking. Allied exercises and consultations are identified as separate responses, rather than part of the launch itself.