Obama To Barbara Walters: “We Strongly Affirm Our Commitment To Defend South Korea”

Earlier today, North Korea opened fire on South Korean troops, reportedly injuring 15 soldiers and killing two. Now President Obama has spoken out about the incident, telling Barbara Walters that the U.S. “strongly affirm[s] our commitment to defend South Korea” in accordance with an alliance that has existed since the Korean War.

The clip below, which aired tonight on ABC’s World News with Diane Sawyer, shows Walters asking Obama whether an attack on South Korea can be construed as an attack on the U.S. The president’s answer, in full, went as follows:

“South Korea is our ally. It has been since the Korean war, and we strongly affirm our commitment to defend South Korea as part of that alliance.”

Walters then asked whether Obama might be planning to send warships or troops to Korea. Obama replied that he didn’t want to “speculate on military actions at this point,” since he hasn’t yet discussed those options with South Korean president Lee Myung-bak.

Walters’s full interview with the president and Michelle Obama will air this Friday. In the meantime, you’ll have to make due with this video from ABC News.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!