Trump's nominee for defense secretary "North Korea is a nuclear power...Threat to global stability"

U.S. Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth referred to North Korea as a nuclear power and pointed out that the North Korean threat poses a global threat as well as the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific.

In a response before a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing, Hegseth said North Korea's status as a nuclear power, increased range of missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads and increased cyber capabilities pose a threat to global stability.

He also stressed that the threat is particularly concerning because North Korea is close to close U.S. allies with U.S. troops.

Hagess recently said China, Russia and North Korea have greatly expanded and modernized their nuclear capabilities, adding that North Korea is expanding its nuclear arsenal and developing from miniaturizing nuclear warheads and mobile launch systems.

At the same time, he pointed out that we should continue to be vigilant about North Korea's space capabilities.

When asked about the actions the U.S. and its allies will take in line with North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities, they answered that it is important to improve the missile defense system in the U.S. mainland.

Hegseth, the appointee, said in remarks at all of the hearings that he would re-establish U.S. deterrence and that he would work with allies to deter a communist-led Chinese offensive.