White House: US does not discuss preemptive strike plans in advance

The United States does not discuss any preemptive strike plans in advance, the White House said Thursday in response to a question whether President Barack Obama has any airstrike plans against the North.

"Just in general, not specifically to North Korea, as an operational matter we're not going to discuss any preemptive military actions in advance," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said at a regular press briefing after a reporter asked if Obama has "any particular plans for the North Korea such as airstrikes."

The remark does not appear to suggest any military action is under consideration against the North, but the question itself shows heightened concern in the US about the North's nuclear and missile programs in the wake of its fifth nuclear test earlier this month.

"What President Obama has said with regard to North Korea, is that the international community needs to consider what additional steps we can take to further isolate the North Koreans, particularly in the aftermath of their latest nuclear tests," Earnest said.

"The United States takes this quite seriously. This is something that has been discussed in the context of the United Nations Security Council, and I know that there's work that's being done at the Unite Nations to consider what additional steps should be taken in response to the latest North Korea nuclear testing," he said. (Yonhap)