President Trump is not ready to give up on the war rhetoric and what he calls as ‘peace through strength’. While he must receive some credit for the recent approach by North Korea in improving relations with the South, his strong remarks and war rhetoric always add some risks.
In his New Year address, North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong-Un indicated that he and his nation stands ready for dialogue with the southern neighbor but warned that his country stands ready to fight back against any provocations from Washington as a nuclear button is always on the supreme leader’s desk aimed at the United States. He added that North Korea wants to be recognized a responsible nuclear power, which will use such weapons only if attacked. He said, “The entire United States is within range of our nuclear weapons, and a nuclear button is always on my desk.”
In response to Kim’s comments, President Trump tweeted, “North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”
Tensions have been building on the Korean peninsula over the last year, spurred on by combative US rhetoric. The White House has vowed to put "maximum pressure on Pyongyang," with America's UN envoy Nikki Haley saying earlier the North would be "utterly destroyed" should there be war. Adding fuel to the fire, the US and South Korea have persisted with their joint military drills on the North's borders.
