Trump refuses to rule out military action in Korea crisis
President Donald Trump has refused to rule out eventual military action against North Korea and declared that the United States would “not stand” for Pyongyang menacing America or its allies.
In his first stop of an extended trip in Asia, Mr Trump stood with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe at a news conference and suggested the United States would arm Japan, much as the US has done with allies in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia.
He did not deny reports that he has expressed frustration that Japan did not shoot down a ballistic missile North Korea recently fired over its territory.
“He will shoot them out of the sky when he completes the purchase of lots of additional military equipment from the United States,” Mr Trump said of Mr Abe. “He will easily shoot them out of the sky.”
Japan, under its warrenouncing constitution, can shoot down a missile only when it is aimed at the country or when debris are falling on to its territory.
Some hawkish members of Mr Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party said it may be possible to shoot down a missile headed toward Guam in case it causes an existential threat to the US as Japan’s ally, but experts say that is questionable.
Mr Trump’s trip abroad comes amid dismal ratings among voters for the firsttime president and questions about whether he can handle the nuclear standoff with North Korea.
Standing in an Asia capital in range of North Korea’s missiles, Mr Trump defended his fiery language, declaring Pyongyang “a threat to the civilised world”.
“Some people say my rhetoric is very strong but look what has happened with very weak rhetoric in the last 25 years,” said Mr Trump with Mr Abe at the news conference.
Mr Abe, who has taken a more hawkish view on North Korea than some of his predecessors, agreed with Trump’s assessment that “all options are on the table” when dealing with Kim Jong-un and announced new sanctions against several dozen North Korea individuals.
Japan is already seeking money to purchase upgraded SM3 interceptors with greater accuracy and range, as well as other advanced missile defence systems such as land-based Aegis Ashore interceptors or the Terminal High-altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, a US mobile antimissile system installed in South Korea.
An instalment of THAAD in Japan would further escalate reaction from Beijing, which has already balked at the instalment of THAAD in South Korea.