US will strike N. Korea if South attacked with nukes: South Korea spy chief nominee

North Korea is believed to have stockpiled fissile materials to build atomic weapons, although it has not tested a missile mounted with such a weapon. - Reuters

SEOUL: South Korea's nominee for spy agency director said on Thursday (June 19) he believed the United States would strike North Korea with nuclear weapons if Pyongyang launched a nuclear attack against South Korea.

Lee Jong-seok made the comment during a nomination hearing in answer to a question if he believed Washington would strike the North and put Americans at risk from a country even if Pyongyang has deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles.