North Korean Threat Real Says U.S. Admiral

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright April 10, 2013
All Rights Reserved.                                         

        Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, 58-year-old U.S. Pacific Commander Adm. Samuel Locklaear warned that North Korea was indeed a threat to U.S. and regional security in the Korean Peninsula.  With 3O-year-old North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un running the show, Locklear doesn’t have much confidence that youngest son of the late Kim Jong-Il won’t continue nuclear saber rattling, possibly leading to another incident.  Defying U.N. Security Council, Kim recently detonated a another nuclear device Feb. 12.  “The continued advancement of the North’s nuclear and missile programs, its conventional force posture, and its willingness to resort to asymmetric as a tool of coercive diplomacy creates and environment marked by the potential for miscalculation that, and controlled escalation, could result from another North Korean provocative action,” said Locklear.

             Since the U.S. and South Korean began a series of yearly military maneuvers on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea has ratcheted up the gunboat diplomacy, threatening the U.S. with nuclear war.  While many experts dismiss the rhetoric as hot air, Locklear indicates that it could result in hostile actions both from the North and the South.  When Locklear talks of “miscalculation,” he’s referring to the very real possibility that South Korea would respond to new provocative action.  Since Kim started talking crazy Feb. 25, the White House responded by showing Kim U.S. military capability, including B-2  Stealth Bomber flyovers and Patriot missile batteries.  Accused of escalating the prospects for war, the White House dialed back the show-and-tell, sending Kim mixed messages about U.S. resolve. Dialing back incendiary rhetoric works two ways with the isolated Stalinist state.

             South Korean 61-year-old female President Part Geun-Hye warned the North on taking office Feb. 25, 2013 that any more provocative actions would be me met with devastating force.  Referring to the “swish of her venomous skirt,” Kim has done everything possible to push the new leader into an aggressive act.  Locklear told ranking Senate Armed Services member Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) that the U.S. Pacific Fleet was capable of intercepting incoming North Korean missiles.  Saying that he’d reserve the right to use the missile defense system based on where the missile was heading, Locklear said the Navy was ready for any contingency.  Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) questioned whether the North was capable of delivering ballistic missiles with any accuracy or, for that matter, attacking the South with nuclear or conventional weapons.

             Saying the threat to U.S. and South Korean national security was real, Locklear confirmed that the Navy was prepared.  Levin said the threats “appear to exceed its capabilities, and its use of what capabilities it has against the U.S. or our allies seems highly unlikely and would be completely contrary to the regimes primary goal of survival.”  Levin’s observations about Kim suggest the inexperienced dictator is trying his best, as Locklear says, to coerce some concessions from the West.  “Nonetheless, its words and actions are not without consequences,” said Levin, referring to the ongoing contingency planning.  U.S. and South Korean officials don’t want to be left flatfooted in the event Kin decides to take action.  White House officials announced yesterday that it would delay testing an intercontinental ballistic missile to help defuse tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

             When the White House sent B-2 Stealth bomber over South Korea last week, it was mean to send a message to Pyongyang.  Delaying the ballistic missile test also sends a message, perhaps the wrong one.  Delaying the test could be interpreted by Kim as a lack of American resolve to deal with a North Korean advance.  While carrying of a ballistic missile test could look provocative, no one would blame the U.S. if Kim shelled another South Korea island or some other remote target.  South Korean officials have made it clear after years of unanswered North Korean attacks that they’d respond aggressively.  Deploying two Navy missile-defense ships near the Korean Peninsula and land based systems in Guam, the Navy prepares for Kim’s next move.  Restraining from public displays this week suggest the Navy tries to go about its business without pushing Kim over the edge.

             White House and Pentagon officials needs to speak with one voice when it comes to dealing with North Korea.  Backing down from gunboat diplomacy this week sends Kim the wrong message, namely, that the U.S. and South Korean wish to avoid provoking its North Korean neighbor.  As Levin points out, most North Korean experts believe Kim is blowing smoke, consolidating his grip on the military.  “We have demonstrated to the people of the region, demonstrated to the leadership of North Korea, our ability and willingness to defend out nation, our people, our allies and our forward deployed forces,” said Locklear, stating for the record that the U.S. is ready to act if necessary.  With China admonishing Kim and joining the U.N. Security Council in condemning nuclear tests and belligerent rhetoric, Kim has no choice but to retreat behind the DMZ’s barbed wire.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.