Trump: Military option for N. Korea still open

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday said military action against North Korea remains an option to counter its nuclear missile program, speaking ahead of a weekend when Pyongyang is expected to make another provocative move advancing its effort.

“Military action would certainly be an option,” Trump said at a White House news conference alongside the leader of Kuwait. “Is it inevitable? Nothing is inevitable. It would be great if something else could be worked out.”

Boasting that the U.S. military is stronger than ever with the addition of “new and beautiful equipment,” Trump added, “Hopefully we’re not going to have to use it on North Korea. If we do use it on North Korea, it will be a very sad day for North Korea.”

He concluded, “North Korea is behaving badly, and it’s got to stop.”

Trump’s comments came even as his administration tentatively concurred with Pyonyang’s claim to have tested a hydrogen bomb.

A senior administration official said the U.S. was still assessing last weekend’s underground explosion, North Korea’s most powerful to date, but so far noted nothing inconsistent with the regime’s claim.

If confirmed, that would mark a major advance in its demonstrated ability to build high-yield nuclear weapons. Hydrogen bombs have the potential to be far stronger than simpler fission bombs like those used on Japan at the end of World War II.

Pressure has mounted on Trump to respond as North Korea appears to be getting closer to building a nuclear weapon small enough to be compatible with a missile that can reach the United States.

Last month, the North Korean military fired a missile into the upper atmosphere in its latest missile test. A threatened South Korea believes the North Korean military is preparing for another test of an intercontinental ballistic missile on Saturday, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said Thursday.

Saturday is the anniversary of North Korea’s founding, and its leaders typically celebrate with a show of force.

Trump didn’t answer a question about whether he would accept North Korea as a nuclear power and switch the U.S. strategy to one of containment and deterrence.

The long-standing objective of the U.S. and its allies, as well as China and Russia, has been to seek the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, although the chances of realizing that goal have diminished as the North has advanced its nuclear program. Pyongyang likely views its arsenal as a guarantee against its overthrow.

In South Korea, dozens of people were injured in clashes between South Korean protesters and police Thursday as the U.S. military added more launchers to the high-tech THAAD missiledefense system it installed to better cope with North Korean threats.

Seoul has hardened its stance against Pyongyang after its latest torrent of weapons tests.