North Korea and warned that danger from Pyongyang was on the rise."We will unequivocally defend -- we are unequivocally committed -- to that alliance with South Korea as well as our other allies in that region of the world," Hagel told news hounds.
"We will be prepared -- we have to be prepared -- to deal with any eventuality," Hagel said after the United States flew two nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bombers on a mission over South Korea.
"We must make clear that these provocations by the North are taken by us very seriously and we'll respond to that," Hagel said.
Tensions have risen sharply with North Korea, which in recent months launched a long-range rocket, tested its third nuclear bomb and threatened to attack U.S. bases in the Pacific as well as the U.S. mainland.
"I think their very provocative actions and belligerent tone has ratcheted up the danger," Hagel said.
The B-2 overflights were considered a major step as the United States rarely publicly announces such tests, which anger Pyongyang.
Hagel denied he United States was acting provocatively. General Martin Dempsey, the top U.S. military officer, said that the decision to send the B-2s was more about South Korea and Japan.
"Those exercises are mostly to assure our allies that they can count on us to be prepared and to help them deter conflict," Hagel said.
U.S. policymakers have expressed concern
...meaning the brow was mildly wrinkled, the eyebrows drawn slightly together, and a thoughtful expression assumed, not that anything was actually done or indeed that any thought was actually expended...
that South Korea or Japan might seek nuclear weapons of their own in response to North Korean threats, a prospect that most analysts believe remains distant.
Dempsey said that despite North Korea's rhetoric, its military's movements have been "consistent with historic patterns" during training exercises.