Since 1992， the United States and our allies have stood together for a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. We hope to achieve this objective through peaceable means. But all options are on the table.
Just in the past two weeks， the world witnessed the strength and resolve of our new President in actions taken in Syria and Afghanistan. North Korea would do well not to test his resolve －－ or the strength of the Armed Forces of the United States in this region.
We will continue to deploy the THAAD missile－defense system as a defensive measure －－ called for by the alliance， and for the alliance. We will continue to evolve a comprehensive set of capabilities to ensure the security of South Korea. And as our Secretary of Defense made clear here in South Korea not long ago， we will defeat any attack， and we will meet any use of conventional or nuclear weapons with an overwhelming and effective response.
Strategic patience has been the approach of the last American administration and beyond. For more than two decades， the United States and our allies have worked to peacefully dismantle North Korea’s nuclear program and alleviate the suffering of their people. But at every step of the way， North Korea answered our overtures with willful deception， broken promises， and nuclear and missile tests.
Over the past 18 months， North Korea has conducted two unlawful nuclear tests and an unprecedented number of ballistic missile tests， even conducting a failed missile launch as I traveled here for this visit.
The era of strategic patience is over.
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