Friday, August 11, 2017

Trump: What NKorea is doing can’t be allowed

US President Donald Trump toughened his stance on North Korea in remarks to reporters Thursday night, Aug. 10. Rejecting criticism at home of his “fire and fury” threat for North Korea’s bellicose nuclear and missile programs, Trump said: “They’ve been doing this to our country for a long time, for many years, and it’s about time that somebody stuck up for the people of this country and countries of the world. So, if anything, maybe that statement wasn’t tough enough.”
 
Asked what could be tougher, he replied “You’ll see. You’ll see.” “The people of this country should be very comfortable,” he said. If they attack the US or its allies, “Things will happen to them like they never thought possible.”

Wednesday night, North Korea’s Strategic Rocket Forces headed by Gen. Kim Rak Gyom, said that under consideration was an “enveloping strike at Guam through simultaneous fire of four Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic rockets in order to interdict the enemy forces on major military bases on Guam and to signal a crucial warning to the US.”
 
The general said the plan would be ready by mid-August before gong to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for approval.” In a jab at the US president, he added: “Sound dialogue is not possible with such a guy bereft of reason and only absolute force can work on him.”
In reply, Trump would not say whether he is considering a preemptive strike on North Korea, although his words indicated that Washington would not wait for the North Koreans to attack Guam.

He did say that he was still open to negotiation with the “isolated” dictatorship, with China taking part, but added that talks taking place over 25 years “had done little to halt the country’s nuclear program.” “What they’ve been doing, what they’ve been getting away with is a tragedy and it can’t be allowed,” Trump said.
 
Trump spoke after he and Vice President Mike Pence received a security briefing from White House chief of staff John Kelly and national security adviser H.R. McMaster, both former generals.
 
Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis warned North Korea in the strongest terms to stop any action that would lead to the “end of its regime” and the destruction of its people.”
He said in a statement: "The DPRK must choose to stop isolating itself and stand down its pursuit of nuclear weapons. READ MORE