COL RICHARD KEMP

chairman of the Cobra intelligence group

NORTH Korea is not America’s problem alone but the world’s. Its missile test last Friday indicated a theoretical range of about 6,250 miles – putting New York, Washington and London within target.

Pyongyang has also colluded with Tehran over ballistic missile development and we must assume there will also be cooperation on nuclear programmes.

Kim Jong-un is an unpredictable and irrational dictator, capable of over-ruling his more sober-headed advisers.

Diplomatic efforts to halt or contain North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons over 25 years have all failed, as will the regime sanctions ordered this week by the UN Security Council.

What other options exist to deal with this increasingly dangerous threat? Firstly pile on the pressure against China to strangle North Korea’s economy and destabilise the regime.

Given Beijing’s unwillingness to do this, it will need Western trade action against China as well as targeted sanctions against its banks and companies that keep the North Korean economy running. The US Treasury has already begun this, but international backing is needed.

Next the US should step up its longneglected ballistic missile defences, including in space, to increase its own protection as well as that of its allies.

Concurrently America and its allies must plan for an air, sea and ground war.

Unpalatable as this option undoubtedly is, it could be less devastating than a successful North Korean nuclear strike.