News Analysis |
US President Donald Trump has said that he will have no option but to completely destroy North Korea, should his country and allies be forced to defend themselves. He was speaking at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday.
By using an obfuscating deterrence language, Trump has stoked up insecurities of a weaker and smaller nuclear state, something which is least advisable and highly incendiary
Trump who has not hesitated to dish out open threats to Pyongyang in the past said: “The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime. The United States is ready, willing, and able, but hopefully, this will not be necessary.” The direct and dire threat is the most provocative one given to the Kim regime.
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Tensions came to the fore when Trump fired Twitter grenades at Kim Jong Un last month. Kim responded not only by openly threatening to target the US territory of Guam but by launching an IRBM over Japan, which made the previous threat more credible. However, the test of the Hydrogen-bomb by DPRK earlier this month has taken the crisis at a tipping point.
The has great strength & patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy #NoKo. pic.twitter.com/P4vAanXvgm
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2017
Trump who has given Kim an uncanny nickname “Rocketman” said that the regime’s reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles is a threat to the entire world. “No nation on Earth has an interest in seeing this band of criminals arm itself with nuclear weapons and missiles,” Trump said.
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Though Trump’s threat was brazen it was a reiteration of earlier threats. Much to his credit, Trump said that DPRK will be destroyed, should the US be forced to defend
Trump also thanked the Security Council for imposing sanctions on DPRK and also China and Russia for not vetoing them. “The United Nations Security Council recently held two unanimous 15-0 votes adopting hard-hitting resolutions against North Korea, and I want to thank China and Russia for joining the vote to impose sanctions, along with all of the other members of the Security Council,” Trump said while adding that a denuclearized Pyongyang is the only acceptable future.
However, the sanctions did little to deter and compel the 32-year old leader. After threatening to inflict the US its greatest pain ever and sinking Japan, Kim supervised the launch of a missile which flew over Japan. Besides, the feisty young leader also vowed to complete the country’s nuclear goals come what may.
Trump who has given Kim an uncanny nickname “Rocketman” said that the regime’s reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles is a threat to the entire world
Kim has shown the ability to take risks despite mounting pressures, meaning that he remains undeterred to-date. A careful analysis of his actions over the past month has depicted that he does what he says; he increases the magnitude of his actions if and when threats perceptions increase.
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It is very unlikely that Kim will take these threats lightly; he is more likely to respond with yet another missile launch or a nuclear test. Though Trump’s threat was brazen it was a reiteration of earlier threats. Much to his credit, Trump said that DPRK will be destroyed, should the US be forced to defend.
US President Donald Trump has said that he will have no option but to completely destroy North Korea, should his country and allies be forced to defend themselves
Trump, in other words, took out a preemptive strike out of the mix for now. This may lessen Kim’s vulnerability to an imminent first counterforce strike by the US but given that Trump said that a denuclearized North Korea is the only acceptable future is enough to make Kim anticipate a US strike aimed at his nuclear installations.
This vulnerability will determine Kim’s response to the latest tirade by Trump. By using an obfuscating deterrence language, Trump has stoked up insecurities of a weaker and smaller nuclear state, something which is least advisable and highly incendiary.