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| On North Korea Threat, ‘Americans Should Sleep Well at Night,’ Tillerson Says | On North Korea Threat, ‘Americans Should Sleep Well at Night,’ Tillerson Says |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said on Wednesday that Americans should not be concerned about an imminent threat from North Korea, despite the exchange of fiery, nuclear-fueled warnings between President Trump and Pyongyang. | KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said on Wednesday that Americans should not be concerned about an imminent threat from North Korea, despite the exchange of fiery, nuclear-fueled warnings between President Trump and Pyongyang. |
| “I think Americans should sleep well at night, have no concerns about this particular rhetoric of the last few days,” Mr. Tillerson said as his plane stopped on the way back to the United States to refuel in Guam, the very island that North Korea threatened to target with an attack. | “I think Americans should sleep well at night, have no concerns about this particular rhetoric of the last few days,” Mr. Tillerson said as his plane stopped on the way back to the United States to refuel in Guam, the very island that North Korea threatened to target with an attack. |
| He added: “Nothing I have seen and nothing I know of would indicate that the situation has dramatically changed in the last 24 hours.” | |
| Mr. Tillerson said that the threats emanating in recent days from the North Korean government have come as a result of growing international condemnation and sanctions. | Mr. Tillerson said that the threats emanating in recent days from the North Korean government have come as a result of growing international condemnation and sanctions. |
| “What the president is doing is sending a strong message to North Korea in language that Kim Jong-un would understand, because he doesn’t seem to understand diplomatic language,” Mr. Tillerson said, referring to Mr. Trump’s statement on Tuesday that North Korea would “be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.” | “What the president is doing is sending a strong message to North Korea in language that Kim Jong-un would understand, because he doesn’t seem to understand diplomatic language,” Mr. Tillerson said, referring to Mr. Trump’s statement on Tuesday that North Korea would “be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.” |
| Mr. Tillerson continued: “I think the president just wanted to be clear to the North Korean regime that the U.S. has unquestionable ability to defend itself, will defend itself and its allies, and I think it was important that he deliver that message to avoid any miscalculation on their part.” | Mr. Tillerson continued: “I think the president just wanted to be clear to the North Korean regime that the U.S. has unquestionable ability to defend itself, will defend itself and its allies, and I think it was important that he deliver that message to avoid any miscalculation on their part.” |
| North Korea’s ballistic missile program has advanced remarkably during the Trump administration, with the regime testing two intercontinental ballistic missiles in recent weeks, prompting experts to warn that the nation now may have a missile capable of reaching the United States. | North Korea’s ballistic missile program has advanced remarkably during the Trump administration, with the regime testing two intercontinental ballistic missiles in recent weeks, prompting experts to warn that the nation now may have a missile capable of reaching the United States. |
| The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that American intelligence agencies had concluded that North Korea had miniaturized a warhead that could fit on top of one of its missiles. The Japanese government also said in an annual threat assessment on Tuesday that “it is possible that North Korea has already achieved the miniaturization of nuclear weapons and has acquired nuclear warheads.” | The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that American intelligence agencies had concluded that North Korea had miniaturized a warhead that could fit on top of one of its missiles. The Japanese government also said in an annual threat assessment on Tuesday that “it is possible that North Korea has already achieved the miniaturization of nuclear weapons and has acquired nuclear warheads.” |
| But experts said the main problem for North Korea is not miniaturization; the bombs are already judged small enough to fit on a ballistic missile, as a famous picture of Mr. Kim with an odd warhead resembling a disco ball seemed to make clear. The real test is whether a warhead can survive the intense heat of re-entry as it plunges through the atmosphere from space, a hurdle North Korea is not believed to have overcome. | But experts said the main problem for North Korea is not miniaturization; the bombs are already judged small enough to fit on a ballistic missile, as a famous picture of Mr. Kim with an odd warhead resembling a disco ball seemed to make clear. The real test is whether a warhead can survive the intense heat of re-entry as it plunges through the atmosphere from space, a hurdle North Korea is not believed to have overcome. |
| Mr. Trump weighed in on Twitter Wednesday morning, promoting the strength of the United States nuclear arsenal, even though he has previously called it obsolete. The president said because of steps he has taken during his administration, the arsenal is now “far stronger and more powerful than ever before.” | Mr. Trump weighed in on Twitter Wednesday morning, promoting the strength of the United States nuclear arsenal, even though he has previously called it obsolete. The president said because of steps he has taken during his administration, the arsenal is now “far stronger and more powerful than ever before.” |
| In fact, the modernization of the nuclear arsenal began under President Barack Obama and while Mr. Trump has pledged to overhaul the nation’s collection of bombers, submarines and land-based missiles, no substantial changes have been made since he took office. Mr. Trump faces a decision on whether to continue the 30-year program initiated by Mr. Obama even as cost estimates have grown by an additional 20 percent, bringing the price tag to $1.2 trillion, according to an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office. | In fact, the modernization of the nuclear arsenal began under President Barack Obama and while Mr. Trump has pledged to overhaul the nation’s collection of bombers, submarines and land-based missiles, no substantial changes have been made since he took office. Mr. Trump faces a decision on whether to continue the 30-year program initiated by Mr. Obama even as cost estimates have grown by an additional 20 percent, bringing the price tag to $1.2 trillion, according to an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office. |
| The White House’s proposed budget called for big increases in research and development for new weapons, but it does not yet grapple with the ultimate budget-busting cost of producing a new fleet of delivery vehicles. | The White House’s proposed budget called for big increases in research and development for new weapons, but it does not yet grapple with the ultimate budget-busting cost of producing a new fleet of delivery vehicles. |
| The Trump administration has sent mixed signals about whether it would entertain direct talks with the North Korean government, with Vice President Mike Pence saying no such talks are being considered, while Mr. Tillerson has said they could happen as long as the North Koreans demonstrate their sincerity by pausing their missile tests. How long such a pause needs to last he refused to say. | The Trump administration has sent mixed signals about whether it would entertain direct talks with the North Korean government, with Vice President Mike Pence saying no such talks are being considered, while Mr. Tillerson has said they could happen as long as the North Koreans demonstrate their sincerity by pausing their missile tests. How long such a pause needs to last he refused to say. |
| Mr. Tillerson emphasized that he is engaged in an ongoing diplomatic effort and that “our telephone lines remain open, certainly to China, Russia as well as our allies.” | Mr. Tillerson emphasized that he is engaged in an ongoing diplomatic effort and that “our telephone lines remain open, certainly to China, Russia as well as our allies.” |
| Mr. Tillerson’s remarks came as he flew home from four days of talks in Asia, including meetings with his counterparts from Russia, China, South Korea and Japan at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, in Manila this year as well as talks in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. | Mr. Tillerson’s remarks came as he flew home from four days of talks in Asia, including meetings with his counterparts from Russia, China, South Korea and Japan at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, in Manila this year as well as talks in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. |
| The growing menace from North Korea was Mr. Tillerson’s top priority, although he also discussed China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea as well as what the United States perceives as the growing threat of the Islamic State in Asia. | The growing menace from North Korea was Mr. Tillerson’s top priority, although he also discussed China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea as well as what the United States perceives as the growing threat of the Islamic State in Asia. |
| Since arriving in Asia on Saturday, Mr. Tillerson has spoken at least once with Mr. Trump, although he declined to say on Wednesday whether Mr. Trump’s threatening remarks directed at North Korea were part of a diplomatic strategy or were something Mr. Trump said off the cuff. | Since arriving in Asia on Saturday, Mr. Tillerson has spoken at least once with Mr. Trump, although he declined to say on Wednesday whether Mr. Trump’s threatening remarks directed at North Korea were part of a diplomatic strategy or were something Mr. Trump said off the cuff. |
| Mr. Tillerson said that his strategy of gradually increasing diplomatic and economic pressure on the North Korean government is working. | Mr. Tillerson said that his strategy of gradually increasing diplomatic and economic pressure on the North Korean government is working. |
| “I think in fact the pressure is starting to show,” he said. “I think that’s why the rhetoric coming out of Pyongyang has gotten louder and more threatening.” | “I think in fact the pressure is starting to show,” he said. “I think that’s why the rhetoric coming out of Pyongyang has gotten louder and more threatening.” |
| But he added that “whether we’ve got them backed into a corner or not is difficult to say. | But he added that “whether we’ve got them backed into a corner or not is difficult to say. |
| “But diplomatically you never like to have someone in a corner without a way for them to get out,” he said. | “But diplomatically you never like to have someone in a corner without a way for them to get out,” he said. |
| The way out for the North Koreans? | The way out for the North Koreans? |
| “Talks,” Mr. Tillerson said. “Talks with the right expectation of what those talks will be about.” | “Talks,” Mr. Tillerson said. “Talks with the right expectation of what those talks will be about.” |