Hegseth calls NK's nuclear program 'lesson' as he defends Iran operation
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth referenced North Korea's nuclear development as a cautionary example while defending the U.S. military operation against Iran, arguing that Tehran was pursuing a similar strategy of using conventional missiles to protect its nuclear ambitions. Speaking before the House Armed Services Committee, Hegseth justified President Trump's decision to launch the strike as a necessary and bold move to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The Pentagon's acting Comptroller, Jules Hurst, disclosed that the operation, known as Operation Epic Fury, has cost approximately $25 billion to date.
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U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies before Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Dan Caine, Under Secretary of Defense (CFO), Jules Hurst III, before the House Armed Services Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., Wednesday. EPA-YonhapWASHINGTON — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday described North Korea's menacing nuclear program as "the lesson" to learn, as he defended the U.S. military operation against Iran, which a Pentagon official said has cost an estimated $25 billion.Hegseth made the remarks during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, stressing that Iran's strategy to build nuclear weapons mirrors that of North Korea, as he pointed out that like Pyongyang, Tehran had been building a "conventional shield" of missiles to double down…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Korea Times.