U.S. Defense Department "takes North Korea's Declaration of Fortification very seriously"

The U.S. government says it takes North Korea's recent road disconnection to the South and fortification work very seriously.Asked about North Korea's "fortress declaration," Defense Ministry spokesman Pat Ryder
said in a briefing that security on the Korean Peninsula and the alliance with South Korea are clearly being taken very seriously.

He also emphasized that he is communicating frequently with his ally South Korea and communicating with South Korea about why North Korea chose to become a "fortress."Asked if there were any signs that North Korea, which intervened in the war in Ukraine, would also engage in military cooperation with Iran, spokesman
Rider said, "We have not seen any such signs," but added, "It is an issue that we are continuing to watch."

Meanwhile, he explained that no new date and location has yet been set regarding the delay to a meeting of the "Ukraine Defense Liaison Group" scheduled in Germany as President Biden postponed his overseas trip to respond to the hurricane.