‘Peace with N. Korea possible’ Top US general: Military solution only if all else fails

BEIJING: Peace with North Korea is a “possibility”, the United States’ most senior uniformed officer said, but warned that the United States had “credible, viable military options” for dealing with the errant regime.

General Joe Dunford, the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, also told reporters during his visit to Beijing that the United States had no plans to “dial back” military exercises with South Korea, which have angered both China and North Korea.

“What’s unimaginable to me is not a military option,” he said.

“What is unimaginable is allowing (North Korean leader Kim Jongun) to develop ballistic missiles with a nuclear warhead that can threaten the United States and continue to threaten the region.”

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said yesterday that “there will be no war” on the peninsula.

“All South Koreans have worked so hard together to rebuild the country from the ruins of the Korean War. We can’t lose everything with another war,” he added.

Dunford, who was in South Korea earlier this week and was set to land in Japan yesterday evening to discuss tensions around North Korea’s growing weapons programme, acknowledged that a military solution would be “horrific”.

But he said it would be employed only if diplomatic and economic pressures failed to create the conditions for political dialogue.

“I do believe right now that there’s a long way to go, but we are on a path where there is a possibility, and I hope we can resolve this peacefully,” he added.

On Tuesday, China, which has been accused by the United States of not doing enough to rein in Kim’s authoritarian regime, started implementing a ban on North Korean imports of iron, irone ore and seafood as part of a far-reaching United Nations Security Council resolution passed earlier this month.

The resolution called for tough sanctions that could cost Pyongyang US$1bil (RM4.3bil) in annual revenue. China, the North’s biggest ally, accounts for 90% of its trade.

“The reports I’ve heard ever since I’ve been to Beijing have been positive in terms of Chinese commitment to enforce those sanctions,” Dunford said, though he urged China on Tuesday to increase pressure on Pyongyang.

The general went against White House Steve Bannon’s statement in an interview published on Wednesday, in which he said “there’s no military solution (to North Korea’s nuclear threats)”.

Dunford said President Donald Trump “has told us to develop credible, viable military options, and that’s exactly what we’re doing”.

“If the president comes to us with a decision to use military force, we will provide him with options.” — AFP

I do believe right now that there’s a long way to go, but ... I hope we can resolve this peacefully.

General Joe Dunford