U.S. could live alongside nuclear N.Korea, but goal is denuclearization: Hyten | NK News
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September 19, 2026Sep 19, 2026

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U.S. could live alongside nuclear N.Korea, but goal is denuclearization: Hyten

Commander of USSTRATCOM says goal is to support denuclearization through diplomacy, sanctions

While the United States could theoretically live alongside a nuclear North Korea, the goal of U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) is to support denuclearization through robust deterrence and military preparedness, General John E. Hyten said on Saturday.

Hyten, who is commander of USSTRATCOM and was speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum, said it is his job is to “create the conditions for diplomacy to work, by being ready all the time…to respond to any event that comes out of North Korea.”

But when asked by NK Newswhether the U.S. could live alongside a nuclear ICBM-capable North Korea – in the same way