North Korea, a Threat to Global Stability
Concerns Raised Over Troop Dispatch to Russia
Hints at Pressure for Increased Taiwan Defense Spending
Steven Feinberg, the U.S. Department of Defense Deputy Secretary nominee, emphasized on the 25th (local time) that North Korea's expansion of its nuclear weapons and missile arsenal is considered a threat to global stability and that efforts must be made to suppress it. He also expressed concern about North Korea dispatching troops to Russia.
At the Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing that day, Feinberg stated, "We must work to prevent North Korea's expansion of its nuclear weapons and missile arsenal," adding, "They are intensively focused on expanding their illicit nuclear weapons program and improving their ballistic missile and cruise missile programs." Feinberg also pointed out, "North Korea is a clear threat to stability on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific region, and worldwide."
Regarding additional measures to improve defense capabilities for the U.S. and its allies against North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities, he said, "Improving missile defense (MD) systems, especially those protecting the U.S. homeland, is crucial to countering North Korea's growing threat."
He also noted, "North Korea's long-standing biological and chemical weapons capabilities remain a threat," and expressed concern about North Korea dispatching troops to Russia.
Feinberg assessed that Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to complete military preparations for an invasion of Taiwan by 2027, stating that China poses a significant and increasing threat in the short, medium, and long term.
Accordingly, he pledged to pressure for increased Taiwan defense spending and to urge reforms. He said, "If confirmed, I will support significant U.S. assistance to Taiwan, especially supplying 'asymmetric capabilities' (weapon systems that achieve desired effects with small quantities) linked to crisis scenarios," and added, "I will pressure Taiwan to urgently increase its own defense spending and accelerate reforms."
Feinberg, who served as chairman of the Intelligence Advisory Board during the first Trump administration, is known as a billionaire with assets worth billions of dollars. He co-founded and served as CEO of the private equity firm Cerberus Capital in 1992. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Feinberg's net worth is approximately $6.2 billion. He has pledged to resign from all positions and divest all interests in his company this month.
Feinberg once owned the private military company DynCorp. Because of this, concerns have been raised about potential 'conflicts of interest' if he assumes the position of the second-highest official at the Department of Defense.
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