US President Donald Trump received a briefing on Tuesday from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on military options concerning North Korea, Korea JoongAng Daily reported, citing a White House statement.
“The briefing and discussion focused on a range of options to respond to any form of North Korean aggression,” the White House said in the statement after the meeting, “or, if necessary, to prevent North Korea from threatening the United States and its allies with nuclear weapons.”
JoongAng said the statement implied military options, which could include a preventative war plan or pre-emptive strike.
Trump also had a luncheon with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Mattis on Tuesday, amid a continuing backlash from US legislators for making statements that contradicted diplomatic efforts to resolve the Korea crisis by his cabinet.
Kissinger meeting
The President, in another Tuesday meeting, sat down with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in the Oval Office to get his advice on the crisis.
“I’m here at a moment when the opportunity to build a constructive, peaceful world order is very great,” said Kissinger, who served under the Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford administrations, at the beginning of his meeting with Trump. “And the president is leaving on a trip to Asia, which I think will make a big contribution to progress and peace and prosperity.”
No details emerged on what Kissinger told Trump. But Kissinger has publicly proposed that the US withdraw its troops from South Korea in exchange for a complete resolution of the nuclear issue with the North and in order to allay China’s fears.
Kissinger stressed in an August Op-Ed in the Wall Street Journal that understanding between Washington and Beijing is a “prerequisite,” also stressing Japan and South Korea’s critical roles in resolving the North Korea issue.
Deasr Henry,
You really should not continue making inane statements about matters of
which you know little. Such as your assurance that China ia not aggressivei in foreign policy and your suggestion rhat US troops be witihdrawn from South Korea in exchange for promises the North would have no intention of keeping..
Just a word from an old friend with whom you used to discuss the Far East.
Roberrt Elegnt
What seems to be reality soon between China and Saudis to those who have been dreaming for soon long. I only have this to say…becareful what you wish for because reality is not the same as dreaming.
The North Korea will never ever treat the South Korea and Japan with nuclear unless the US uses these two countries for its military bases to treat the North K.
Nonsense.
Is south Korea part of US now?
BS
Hes right, the south koreans should be charged with defending themselves, US troops pulled back and North Korea disarms its nuclear weapons. PErfect solution that will probably never happen.
Think of a peacful worId!!! Help me advice all parties involved to be friend to each other and instead prepare their nuclear weapons to a posible falling asteroid’s armament,,surEly our motherearth will be peacfil,safe and secured.
North Korea is not threatening any country.it was trump who said he will destroy North Korea it is trump who is trying to start a war. Kim is defending his country . Any man with right mind would do .it is neither aggression or threat .he is a man standing for his people and honour.
Withdraw U.S. troops and allow S.K. & Japan to go nuke… As a deterrence???
Zachary Fredell yeah right widraw all the troops so north korea can invade south with ease lol
North Korea started developing Nuclear Weapons due to growing American presence in South Korea and Japan. Its normal for self defense but I guess all americans are so misled and fed with propangada that the DPRK wants to attack the US…just like Russia. The US is the reason why North Korea is arming itself for self defence. If the US military stay in the US the world would be at peace today
Zachary Fredell – why should US think of disarming North Korea when it has thousands of such weapons and it doesn’t dream of disarming. Remove the speckle in your eye so you can remove your friends. That’s what the Bible teaches us
You can say that a million times. Even the tests, they are not even destroying anything, otherwise we would have heard criticism. They are just defending themselves just as we do to our families. So no one should tell us not to buyou knives when he has a dozen in his cupboard
Zachary Fredell zig IF only Kim would accept that as a solution but he can’t !For three generations the Kim family have deprived NK citizens with the excuse of the threat from the US and SK. Only by saying he has been victorious and defeated their enemies and their struggles have been successful will his people accept their struggle has been worthwhile. So how does explain that the demarcation line still exists and that they can’t visit SK and they will have to suffer longer .
What a load of crap. Trump threatened only that if Kim started a war he would be removed. Diplomacy is impossible when both countries leaders constantly threaten each other
Hopefully behind all the bluff and rhetoric diplomats from all sides are working hard for a peaceful solution.
Don’t you remember the Korean war?
If the other people have the similar idea like you, it would be perfect for the earth but it might be just a dream.
I support my Kissinger’s position.I know of course that will be unpopular with the belligerent Trump,but it offers the hope that some sane elite minds in the US do not see war with DPRK as a Hobson’s choice for peace in the Korean peninsula.
Kisinger has advised Trump US troops must withdrow all troops from South Korea in exchange for a peaciful resolution on nucklear issue thats fine if the mud guy Trump will agree
US must freeze drills and North Korea will stop threats
Alan Harold Dean Dont threat us freeze drills
But Trump only took to office in January. Remember this NKvsUS thing has been runnin for some decades….yes Trumps approach may have ignited the spark…but if my memory serves me well Trump threatened to attach with fire and fury IF the US or its allies are attacked.
Who started the Korean War in 1950? Did not the North
invade the South with the blessings and the material of
China and the USSR? Did not Rusian and Chinese forces, Russian in
the air, aid that aggression materially?
So what is this cant about the North’s arming itself with nuclear
missiles to defend ltself?
Even loludmouth Trump said niothing until Kom Jong Un begat threatening the US and US allies.