Trump on Missile Launch: We’ll Take Care of It

Tillerson Says Diplomacy Remains a Viable Option

President Trump’s surprise Tuesday press statement, mere hours after North Korea launched its latest test ICBM, had surprisingly little to do with North Korea, with President Trump prefacing his comments with an assurance that he’ll “take care of it.”

This is unusual, as Trump has tended to offer very bellicose screeds at every sign of North Korean activity, and talks of “totally destroying” the reclusive nation militarily. Trump followed this up with Twitter statements condemning illegal immigration and presenting North Korea’s test as proof it’s more important than ever to fund his agenda.

The reality may be that North Korea’s improvements in missile technology are making threats to attack them less and less credible, with North Korea’s ability to retaliate growing, and making such a strike too reckless.

This may ultimately oblige the US to seek diplomacy with North Korea, something President Trump never wants to talk about. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, however, said he believes diplomacy toward North Korea remains “viable for now.”

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.