NEW : The United States will defend itself and its allies if needed , Kerry says . Comment: The Pentagon 's intelligence arm has assessed with `` moderate confidence '' that North Korea has the ability to deliver a nuclear weapon with a ballistic missile , though the reliability is believed to be `` low . '' His three host nations all have new leaders .
NEW : The United States will defend itself and its allies if needed , Kerry says . Comment: His three host nations all have new leaders .