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| Pentagon: only ground invasion can destroy North Korean nuclear program | Pentagon: only ground invasion can destroy North Korean nuclear program |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The only way to locate and destroy with complete certainty all components of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program is through a ground invasion, a top Pentagon official has said. | The only way to locate and destroy with complete certainty all components of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program is through a ground invasion, a top Pentagon official has said. |
| In response, a group of 15 Democrats and one Republican member of Congress, all military veterans, called the assessment “deeply disturbing” and said such an action “could result in hundreds of thousands, or even millions of deaths in just the first few days of fighting”. | In response, a group of 15 Democrats and one Republican member of Congress, all military veterans, called the assessment “deeply disturbing” and said such an action “could result in hundreds of thousands, or even millions of deaths in just the first few days of fighting”. |
| The views were exchanged as Trump began a presidential visit to Asia in which the issue of North Korean nuclear ambitions looms large. | |
| “No one, no dictator, no regime … should underestimate American resolve,” Trump told a military audience at Yokota airbase near Tokyo on Sunday on the first leg of his five-nation trip. | “No one, no dictator, no regime … should underestimate American resolve,” Trump told a military audience at Yokota airbase near Tokyo on Sunday on the first leg of his five-nation trip. |
| Nancy Pelosi, the House minority speaker, told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday the US should “exhaust every possible diplomatic resolution” before resorting to force. She also said Donald Trump’s approach to North Korea was akin to “poking a stick in the eye of a mad dog”. | |
| Rear Adm Michael J Dumont of the Joint Staff offered the blunt assessment in response to a letter from two Democrats who asked about casualty assessments in any conflict with North Korea. | Rear Adm Michael J Dumont of the Joint Staff offered the blunt assessment in response to a letter from two Democrats who asked about casualty assessments in any conflict with North Korea. |
| Representatives Ted Lieu of California and Ruben Gallego of Arizona wrote the letter, in answer to which Dumont noted that the US is evaluating North Korea’s ability to target heavily populated areas of South Korea with long-range artillery, rockets and ballistic missiles. | Representatives Ted Lieu of California and Ruben Gallego of Arizona wrote the letter, in answer to which Dumont noted that the US is evaluating North Korea’s ability to target heavily populated areas of South Korea with long-range artillery, rockets and ballistic missiles. |
| He also pointed out that Seoul, the South’s capital with a population of 25 million, is just 35 miles from the demilitarized zone (DMZ). Casualties would differ depending on the advance warning and the ability of US and South Korea forces to counter such attacks, he said. | He also pointed out that Seoul, the South’s capital with a population of 25 million, is just 35 miles from the demilitarized zone (DMZ). Casualties would differ depending on the advance warning and the ability of US and South Korea forces to counter such attacks, he said. |
| “A classified briefing would be the best place to discuss in detail the capability of the US and its allies to discuss capabilities to counter North Korea’s ability to respond with a nuclear weapon and eliminate North Korea’s nuclear weapons located in deeply buried, underground facilities,” Dumont said. | “A classified briefing would be the best place to discuss in detail the capability of the US and its allies to discuss capabilities to counter North Korea’s ability to respond with a nuclear weapon and eliminate North Korea’s nuclear weapons located in deeply buried, underground facilities,” Dumont said. |
| He also mentioned the possibility that chemical and biological weapons might be used by the North. | He also mentioned the possibility that chemical and biological weapons might be used by the North. |
| Military officials would be happy to join “the intelligence community to address these issues in a classified briefing, he said. | Military officials would be happy to join “the intelligence community to address these issues in a classified briefing, he said. |
| In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the 15 Democrats and one Republican said: “It is our intent to have a full public accounting of the potential cost of war, so the American people understand the commitment we would be making as a nation if we were to pursue military action.” | In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the 15 Democrats and one Republican said: “It is our intent to have a full public accounting of the potential cost of war, so the American people understand the commitment we would be making as a nation if we were to pursue military action.” |
| They also said the Trump administration “has failed to articulate any plans to prevent the military conflict from expanding beyond the Korean peninsula and to manage what happens after the conflict is over”. | They also said the Trump administration “has failed to articulate any plans to prevent the military conflict from expanding beyond the Korean peninsula and to manage what happens after the conflict is over”. |
| “With that in mind, the thought of sending troops into harm’s way and expending resources on another potentially unwinnable war is chilling. The president needs to stop making provocative statements that hinder diplomatic options and put American troops further at risk,” the lawmakers said. | “With that in mind, the thought of sending troops into harm’s way and expending resources on another potentially unwinnable war is chilling. The president needs to stop making provocative statements that hinder diplomatic options and put American troops further at risk,” the lawmakers said. |