Weeks of speculation about the US planning to attack North Korea have fueled a series of hostile comments from the North Korean government, which has threatened massive retaliation, and yesterday also threatened a “super-mighty preemptive strike” before the US attacked at all.
Defense Secretary James Mattis dismissed the comments today, saying North Korea was “not proven honest” in past comments, and that subsequently their threatened action was “not to be trusted.” Mattis added that he believed the threats were “provocative.”
Mattis’ comments echo those from the White House a few days ago, dismissing North Korea’s threats to retaliate against the US homeland as not credible, and saying that the US doesn’t believe North Korea has the capability to carry out such a retaliatory strike.
Though North Korea is doubtless overstating its retaliatory capacity, and clearly can’t reduce the entire US mainland to ashes, US comments dismissing them appear to ignore the very real retaliatory capability North Korea does have, raising concerns the US may be about to launch a war without understanding the potential consequences of doing so.
What is the “conflict” with North Korea good for again? Anything?
Yes, Washington no invade N Korea under cover of a Humanitarian intervention. Hence the need to disarm Korea first.
They attempted an invasion in 2010, believing China would not do anything until the hysterical politburo meeting in Harbin.
20 years ago parts of a north Korean icbm were found in Alaska. you should stop minimalizing their capability.
Mattis has some gall to accuse N K of making comments “not honest” when the trump admin lies on a daily basis.
I pointed this out, Reuters lied and made it up, then everyone else took it for granted and pushed it… but Mattis is saying Reuters lied here, and that is big. Very big indeed, because the AP and Reuters are now losing credibility within the American government.
Hey Mattis, this President, the prior President and the President before this last prior President have done nothing but act belligerently toward NK. NK will never offensively attack NK or Japan or us for that matter even if they have ICBMs for it is a zero sum game. However, if you attack them, then yes they will react with everything they have.