N. Korea Nuclear Attack Would Trigger 'overwhelming Response': Mattis

TOKYO, Feb 3, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 03rd Feb, 2017 ) - Any nuclear attack by North Korea would trigger an "effective and overwhelming" response, US Defence Secretary James Mattis said Friday as he sought to reassure Asian allies rattled by President Donald Trump's isolationist rhetoric.

Mattis spoke in the South Korean capital of Seoul on the first overseas tour by a senior Trump administration official as concerns rise about the direction of US policy in the region under the protectionist and fiery leader.

He arrived in Tokyo later in the day for a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and is set to hold talks with Japanese defence minister Tomomi Inada on Saturday. South Korea has enjoyed US security protection since the 1950-53 Korean War, but on the campaign trail, Trump threatened to withdraw US forces from it and Japan if they do not step up their financial support.