Panetta brands North Korea a serious threat
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta branded North Korea a ``serious threat'' Wednesday, as the US military cast a cautious eye on diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang that it fears could be short-lived.
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is praising China for what he calls its ``professional and diplomatic'' response to the US announcement last month of a nearly $6 billion arms sale to Taiwan, which will upgrade its F-16 fighter jets.