{"id":1277,"date":"2017-06-23T17:12:02","date_gmt":"2017-06-23T14:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.xairforces.com\/?p=1277"},"modified":"2017-06-30T17:17:58","modified_gmt":"2017-06-30T14:17:58","slug":"psychopath-north-korean-critics-blast-trump-as-tensions-near-boiling-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.xairforces.com\/?p=1277","title":{"rendered":"Psychopath\u2019: North Korean Critics Blast Trump as Tensions Near Boiling Point"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"North<\/a>

North Korean Army Force (Photo by \u00a9 REUTERS\/ Damir Sagolj)<\/p><\/div>\n

“South Korea must realize that following psychopath [US President Donald] Trump \u2026 will only lead to disaster,”<\/em> a recent article in North Korea\u2019s Rodong Sinmun newspaper warned.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

There are no good military options on\u00a0the Korean Peninsula, where 28,000 US troops stand ready with\u00a0South Korean allies, former US Ambassador to\u00a0South Korea Christopher Hill explicated at\u00a0the end of\u00a0May, noting that \u201cNorth Korea\u2019s threat has really grown\u201d in\u00a0an interview with\u00a0the International Business Times.<\/p>\n

\n
\"A<\/div>\n
North Korea Conducts Rocket Engine Test – Report<\/a>\u00a0(\u00a9 REUTERS\/ KCNA)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Indeed, DPRK artillery stands ready to\u00a0wreak tremendous havoc in\u00a0Seoul, a city just 40 miles from\u00a0the demilitarized buffer dividing the Korean Peninsula. In a June 22 interview with\u00a0CBS aboard\u00a0a Black Hawk helicopter in\u00a0South Korean airspace, Eighth US Army Chief of\u00a0Staff Col. William Taylor gestured to\u00a0the city spreading to\u00a0the horizon and considered the “very destructive” effects North Korea\u2019s 300mm long range artillery units could wreak. “You talk about\u00a025 million people,”<\/strong> he said.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s unbelievable \u2026 [Seoul] is more packed than\u00a0New York City,” the CBS correspondent observed.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The US Forces Korea\u2019s motto is “ready to\u00a0fight tonight.”<\/em><\/p>\n

North Korea has tested 10 missiles this year alone, despite\u00a0diplomatic calls from\u00a0the international community to\u00a0de-escalate tensions.<\/p>\n

South Korean President Moon Jae-in campaigned on\u00a0a platform of\u00a0looking to\u00a0cooperate with\u00a0Pyongyang instead of\u00a0using an antagonistic approach. But Moon has adjusted his tone, recently telling CBS, \u201cwe must now have the perception that North Korea is an irrational regime.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Preemptive Strikes<\/strong><\/p>\n

In April, Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton queried US Pacific Command Cmdr. Harry B. Harris Jr. about\u00a0the Trump administration\u2019s statement that \u201call options\u201d were on\u00a0the table, from\u00a0a military standpoint, to\u00a0conduct a preemptive strike.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat sorts of\u00a0preemptive strike options do we have against\u00a0the North Koreans?\u201d Moulton asked. Harris demurred that a plethora of\u00a0options existed at\u00a0various levels of\u00a0intensity, but\u00a0that he wouldn\u2019t be able to\u00a0discuss such choices in\u00a0a public forum.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Japan<\/div>\n
Japan Considers First Strike Options Against North Korea<\/a>\u00a0 (\u00a9 Flickr\/ Naval Surface Warriors)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Washington\u2019s allies in\u00a0Tokyo have also explored the possibility of\u00a0taking military action, Sputnik reported in\u00a0March.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWould we able to\u00a0take out\u00a0their artillery aimed at\u00a0Seoul?\u201d<\/em> Moulton asked in\u00a0his sustained line of\u00a0inquiry. The US PACOM chief replied that different levels of\u00a0a preemptive attack offered lawmakers and the White House the \u201cability to\u00a0affect North Korea\u2019s military calculus in\u00a0preemptive strikes, depending on\u00a0the type of\u00a0strike.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Moulton continued that North Korean artillery installments are well-documented and cited how the \u201copen press\u201d has all but\u00a0concluded that a preemptive strike would result in\u00a0massive loss of\u00a0life for\u00a0South Koreans and US personnel in\u00a0the region. \u201cWould you agree with\u00a0that assessment?\u201d<\/em> Moulton asked. \u201cSure,\u201d<\/em> Harris confirmed.<\/p>\n

\n