Trump defense secretary nominee Pete Hesgeth ruffled feathers in S. Korea with his written statement to the Senate panel overseeing his confirmation

North Korea on Tuesday test-fired at least one unidentified projectile toward its eastern waters, South Korea’s military said, as it continued its weapons demonstrations ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

South Korea has rejected a characterization of North Korea as a "nuclear power" by President-elect Donald Trump's defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean embassy in China and Trump's team by email with requests for comment.

Seoul says North Korea ‘can never be recognised as a nuclear-armed state’ under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Seoul stressed Wednesday that Pyongyang cannot hold nuclear state status, rejecting U.S. defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth's reference to the North as a "nuclear power."