The chief spy nominee in the south said the United States would attack North Korea if the south attacked nuclear weapons.

Seoul (Reuters) – The US will attack North Korea with nuclear weapons if Pyongyang launches a nuclear attack on South Korea, the nominee of the spy agency in southern South Korea said Thursday.

Lee Jong-Seok commented at the nomination hearing to answer a question whether he believes Washington will attack the North, putting Americans at risk even if Pyongyang deploys intercontinental ballistic missiles.

“Yes, that’s my belief,” Lee said. Lee said the hypothetical scenario under the North Korean nuclear attack was directly related to the security alliance between the two countries.

North Korea has been pursuing nuclear programs for years and it is believed that while missiles installed with the weapon have not been tested, it is believed that fissile materials are stored to make atomic weapons.

Lee was nominated to lead South Korea’s National Intelligence Agency under the leadership of New Liberal President Lee Jae Myung, who took office on June 4.

(Reported by Jack Kim; Edited by Christian Schmollinger)