US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reaffirmed his country's commitment to provide "extended deterrence" to defend South Korea against North Korea.

Blinken met with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin in Washington on Friday(February 3). They discussed possible responses to North Korea, which is increasingly accelerating its nuclear and missile development program.

The two sides later announced that the diplomats agreed to strengthen their countries' defense capabilities and maintain "extended deterrence," in which the United States is committed to protecting its allies with nuclear and non-nuclear weapons.

They also agreed to strengthen trilateral security cooperation among South Korea, the US and Japan to address the escalating threat posed by North Korea.

Blinken later told reporters that his country is committed to defending South Korea using the full range of its capabilities, including nuclear, conventional and missile defense capabilities.

He said the US commitment to the defense of South Korea as well as to Japan is "ironclad."

Their meeting came after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met his South Korean counterpart Lee Jong-sup in Seoul on Tuesday. The defense chiefs agreed that America must boost its extended deterrence. (NHK)