“It is 9:48 p.m. in Beijing, 6:48 p.m. in Tehran, 4:48 p.m. in Moscow, and 10:48 p.m. in Pyongyang. As we sit here now, our nation faces an unprecedented rising global risk. Our adversaries are advancing, global nuclear threats are on the rise, and deterrence is paramount.”
U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, John Caine, called North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs an “immediate security challenge” and voiced strong opposition to significant reductions in U.S. military forces stationed in Japan and South Korea.
In a written statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 1, Caine warned that North Korea’s missile and nuclear capabilities pose a direct threat to the U.S. and its allies. “If confirmed, I will assess the U.S. military presence in Japan and South Korea and make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense and the President,” he said.
A retired brigadier general and former F-16 pilot, Caine emphasized the importance of continued U.S. military cooperation with Japan and South Korea, particularly through the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework. “If confirmed, I will continue to advocate for the Framework as a model for military cooperation, including joint exercises such as Freedom Edge and missile data sharing mechanisms,” he added.
Caine was nominated by Trump to succeed General Charles Brown, whom the president had previously removed from his post as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
When asked about potential cuts to U.S. military forces in South Korea and Japan, Caine highlighted the increasing security risks from North Korea, which has tested missile systems capable of targeting U.S. forces in the region, as well as key U.S. territories like Guam, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Caine also flagged North Korea’s persistent cyber activities—such as cryptocurrency theft and other illicit tactics—as a means to finance its missile and nuclear programs. “The DPRK conducts ongoing cyber activities, including cryptocurrency theft and adaptive cybercrime tactics, to fund and gather technical support for its military and WMD programs,” he noted.
Caine expressed concern over the 2024 strategic partnership between North Korea and Russia, stating it could further bolster North Korea’s military capabilities and destabilize the region. He warned that the growing alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow would increase the threat to U.S. interests and regional stability.
To bolster defenses against North Korea’s missile and nuclear threats, Caine called for closer coordination with U.S. military leaders, including the Secretary of Defense, Northern Command, Strategic Command, Indo-Pacific Command, and U.S.-South Korea Combined Forces Command.
Regarding the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea, Caine emphasized that the decision would depend on South Korea’s operational readiness. He noted South Korea’s ongoing military advancements through multi-domain operations and trilateral training with the U.S. and Japan. If confirmed, he added, he would review existing plans and conditions before making recommendations.
