The U.S. defense chief says that China 's pursuit of hypersonic weapons "increases tensions in the region. "Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made the remarks in Seoul on Thursday following annual security talks with his South Korean counterpart.Austin says the U.S. is concerned about China's military capability and calls Beijing "our pacing challenge. "He says the U.S. will "maintain the capabilities to defend and deter against a range of potential threats from (China) to ourselves and to our allies. North Korea has called such drills an invasion rehearsal and responded with its own costly military exercises or weapons tests.Despite severe pandemic-related economic hardships, North Korea has continuously rebuffed U.S. offers to resume talks, saying Washington must first abandon its hostility toward the North. It said North Korea will hold a key meeting in late December to determine its policy objectives for next year.South Korea has been reluctant to join U.S.-led regional initiatives to check China's rise because its export-driven economy heavily relies on China, its biggest trading partner.

Source: Economic Times December 02, 2021 16:58 UTC