U.S. VP Mike Pence to visit Alaska, intercontinental ballistic missile facilities before Olympics
On his way to attend the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea in February, Vice President Mike Pence plans to make a stop in Alaska.
The White House made the announcement on Wednesday, saying that Pence will visit intercontinental ballistic missile facilities on his stopover in the 49th state.
“The Vice President is traveling to the Olympic Games in South Korea to reinforce the strong U.S. presence on the Korean Peninsula and send a clear message of American resolve to the North Korean regime,” Jarrod Agen, the vice president’s Deputy Chief of Staff, said in the announcement.
That’s in addition to showing support for American athletes at the games and the U.S. military members stationed in the region.
Pence’s travel plans were announced the day after North and South Korea sat down to talk for the first time in two years. Those talks resulted in the opening of a military hotline and the North Korean decision to send a delegation of athletes to the upcoming winter Olympics.
Vice President Pence will attend the opening ceremonies at the Olympics on Feb. 9, so his visit to Alaska will likely take place in the days before.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Surveillance and search and rescue top Canada’s Arctic defence priorities, Radio Canada International
Denmark: Denmark’s new defence agreement renews focus on protecting the Baltic, Radio Canada International
Finland: Poll: Only a fifth of Finns back NATO membership, Yle News
Norway: Nordic soldiers to wear common uniforms, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: What Russia’s new Navy Strategy says about the Arctic, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Sweden’s Prime Minister reaffirms commitment to country’s defense, Radio Sweden
United States: Here’s what’s in the U.S. Defense Department’s new Arctic strategy, Alaska Dispatch News
