North Korean President Kim Jong-un has been missing-in-action since 71-year-old President Donald Trump warned the hermit despot of “fire-and-fury” Aug. 8. Criticized for inflaming tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Trump telegraphed in black-and-white that any more threats from the North Korea the U.S. was ready-and-prepared for any contingency, including military action. While condemned in the mainstream press, Trump’s approval ratings shot up six percent in one week on Rasmussen’s weekly presidential approval tracking poll. Trump’s decisive and forceful response to Kim’s threats were slammed in the media but applauded by average citizens. Sen. John McCain (R-Az.), speaking in Phoenix where he’s receiving chemotherapy at the Mayo Clinic for a glioblastoma [malignant brain tumor], criticized Trump for having no real plan after his “fire-and fury” remarks.
McCain and other Trump critics in the media were silenced the day after Trump made his “fire-and-fury” remarks when Defense Secretary James “Mad Dog” Mattis told Kim that continuing threats against the U.S. would result in “regime change” and “destruction” of the North Korean people. Suddenly, Trump’s “fire-and-fury” comments looked mild in comparison to Mattis. Meeting with South Korean officials in Seoul today, Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he wanted to resolve the situation peacefully but was fully ready to defend U.S. and allies interests in the Korean Peninsula. Trump said Aug. 11 the Pentagon was “locked-and-loaded,” when it came to dealing with any contingency with North Korea. Trump responded to North Korea’s Aug. 8 threat to hit the U.S. territory of Guam with long-range [2,100 miles] ballistic missiles.
Instead of dealing with a clear-and-present-danger to U.S. national security, the media continues to blame Trump for the provocation. Trump didn’t threaten to turn the U.S. into ashes—that was Kim Jong-un. Even China and Russia, who voted Aug. 5 for new North Korean sanctions in the Security Council, can’t deny that Kim has threatened the U.S. with nuclear war. Things changed for Trump Aug. 8 when a Washington Post story indicated the Defense Intelligence Agency [DIA] reports Kim has the technology to miniaturize nuclear warheads. Trump set his line in the sane that he would not permit Kim to get an operational Intercontinental Ballistic Missile with a nuclear-ready warhead. “We are seeking a peaceful resolution to the crisis,” said Dunford, telling South Korean officials that the U.S. is prepared for any contingency. South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in called for a peaceful end to the crisis.
South Korean officials seek to avoid military confrontation with North Korea, much like Poland and Finland during the Cold War. Both countries were threatened with invasion by the Soviet Union, acquiescing to Moscow’s demands. Moon doesn’t yet understand that the current crisis isn’t about Kim threatening to cross the 38th parallel to invade South Korea. “There must not be another war on the Korean Peninsula,” said Moon, showing that, for selfish reasons, he’s submitting to Kim’s threats. Speaking to Moon today, Dunford made clear this was about Kim’s feverish pursuing of a nuclear-tipped ICBM. North Korea’s already warned the U.S. it could hit Alaska or the West Coast at any time. Trump’s main concern is not about Kim invading the South but about a nuclear attack if-and-when Kim gets the nuke and ballistic missile capability to hit the U.S. homeland.
Speaking on North Korea’s official Korean Central New Agency, North Korea warned of nuclear war. “What matters is that if a second conflict [on the peninsula] erupts, that cannot help but lead to nuclear war,” said the official commentary, threatening the region with nuclear war. Every statement out of Pyongyang increases the U.S. chances of preemptive U.S. military action. “We’re all looking to get out of this situation without a war,” said Dunford, but putting South Korea on notice that this isn’t any longer about defending a North Korean invasion. Without saying it, Dunford knows that Kim must give up his nuke and ballistic missile program, something highly improbable. Speaking in the Wall Street Journal Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Mattis offered to negotiate a settlement with Pyongyang, again offering diplomacy over a military option.
Telling North Korea that the U.S. does not want regime change, the U.S. heaps more pressure on China to play a more forceful role in getting Kim to give up his nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. U.S. officials telegraph to world powers that the U.S. seeks peace but won’t allow Kim to keep his nuke and ballistic missile program. No matter how much the U.S. pressures China, there’s little Beijing can do to pressure Kim to give up nukes and ballistic missiles. When you look at Trump’s tough talk and his Secretary of State and Defense Secretary, it’s clear the U.S. is prepared to stop Kim from getting a nuclear-tipped ICBM. While it’s true the Pentagon hasn’t redeployed more assets to South Korea yet, it’s also true the U.S. has plenty of assets in place in the Pacific Rim to take care of North Korea. No one should underestimate Trump’s promise to keep a nuke-ready ICBM out of Kim’s hands.
