US prepares military option
Trump won’t accept nuclear North Korea
THE Trump administration will consider a number of strategies to deal with North Korea’s expanding military provocations in the region, including a military option, according to reports.
“What we have to do is prepare all options because the President has made clear to us that he will not accept a nuclear power in North Korea and a threat that can target the United States and target the American population,” national security adviser H.R. McMaster said at a Washington think tank.
The options are in case North Korean President Kim Jong-un’s regime conducts an underground nuclear test or shows it has achieved some success in developing a long-range ballistic missile that could hit the US, cable news network CNN reports.
“The threat is much more immediate now and so it’s clear that we can’t repeat the same approach – failed approach of the past, ” General McMaster said during a conference that was also attended by homeland security adviser John Kelly.
The meeting took place a day before President Trump welcomed South Korean President Moon Jae-in to
the White House.
President Moon has said he will align his country with President Trump against North Korea.
“Together we will achieve the dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear program, peace on the Korean Peninsula and eventually peace in North-East Asia,” Mr Moon said.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have increased as Kim’s government continues to test-fire ballistic missiles, many of which have crashed into the Sea of Japan.
President Moon was elected after President Park Geun-hye was impeached.