If North Korea uses H-bomb, 'ultimately' Trump's decision on any military action: Tillerson

ABC News ^ | September 22, 2017 | Morgan Winsor

[2ndDivisionVet]

If North Korea follows through on its latest threat of setting off a nuclear explosion over the Pacific Ocean, it will ultimately be up to President Trump whether the United States will respond with military action, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told ABC News today.

ABC News Anchor David Muir asked Tillerson in an interview on "Good Morning America" about North Korea's warning that it could detonate a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific in response to Trump's speech to the United Nations General Assembly this week.

"If we see this detonation of an H-bomb in the Pacific, what will the U.S. do?" Muir asked. "Will there be military action?"

"That will be the president’s decision," Tillerson said. "There is assembled on a standing basis a National Security Council that meets on each of these issues to advise the president. Ultimately it will be his decision."

The secretary of state defended Trump's blunt rhetoric in his speech to the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, in which the president threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea if the United States is "forced to defend itself or its allies," prompting astonished gasps from some in the audience.....

[2ndDivisionVet]

And here I thought it was up to Hillary.

[ClearCase_guy]

Although very obvious, I think it is good to state this in just this way.

An alternative (and less good) answer could have been a vague “The United States government will decide on an appropriate action at that time”.

That would have been weak. It would have implied decision by committee (which would not likely be a bold decision). Instead, the North Koreans are being told that President Donald Trump — that bold, crazy, unpredictable wild man — will react if they do something stupid.

I hope they hear that.

[blackdog]

Actually it is up to Sid Blumenthal.

[familyop]

The more the President talks, the more the North Koreans show and tell. It’s pretty neat, how that works.

[Hang'emAll]

And here I thought it was up to Hillary....

Only if it happens at 3AM with a phone call first ;>)

[2ndDivisionVet]

“Dotard.” LOL

[G Larry]

This simply means that it is time to knock down EVERY NORK launch on ascent.

Do you prefer an unexploded nuke at the bottom of the ocean or a blowed up one above?

[Red Badger]

Wouldn’t it be great if it ‘accidentally’ exploded prematurely on the launch pad?............................

[Future Snake Eater]

Instead, the North Koreans are being told that President Donald Trump — that bold, crazy, unpredictable wild man — will react if they do something stupid.

With execution implemented by Secretary Jim Mattis, the poster child for swift, overwhelming, decisive military action.

[treetopsandroofs]

“That would have been weak. It would have implied decision by committee (which would not likely be a bold decision). Instead, the North Koreans are being told that President Donald Trump — that bold, crazy, unpredictable wild man — will react if they do something stupid.”

You left out the Adjective of the Week: “Dangerous”.

[fireman15]

Wouldn’t it be great if it ‘accidentally’ exploded prematurely on the launch pad?............................

Nothing would be quite as pretty as a huge fireball over Pyongyang. Unfortunately there would be a lot of fallout in China, Russia and South Korea.

[Red Badger]

Their launch site is not near Pyongyang....................unfortunately..........

[fireman15]

Depending on which way the wind was blowing of course.

[plain talk]

The more the President talks, the more the North Koreans show and tell. It’s pretty neat, how that works.

This is not just happenstance. I believe this is Trump's strategy. He is prodding NK to make increasingly bolder moves in hopes of 1) securing support from the world community including China to deal with NK, or 2) as a last resort take defensive military action against NK.

I don't think the US will take any military action against NK until NK engages in military action first. So far it is all talk and missile tests. We will see what happens.

[Lou L]

If the NoKos decide to bring that bomb out to the Pacific using some kind of naval vessel, I suspect another US sub will come back wearing a Pirate flag on its sail.

[Patriot777]

You know how “Muttley”, Dick Dastardly’s dog laughs? ...
I’m making that noise now
:-D

[Sawdring]

Good thinking!

[Cobra64]

Correct. Trump will not initiate a war, but once started, the North will regret it.

[TXnMA]

Should the test have any damaging effect on the territory of the US or that of any of our allies, (i.e. EMP damage in Japan or on Guam) that would be an unequivocal act of war.

~~~~~~~~~

However, President Trump is dealing with a nation with a "paper tiger" mentality that -- in its quest for "Juche" and "Face" -- focuses on appearances, and has lost all contact with physical reality.

Example: despite its having been over 60 years since the DPRK army was in a war, its generals have little need for frontal body armor:

NOTE: FYI, the circulating version of that photo -- with medals on the generals' pants is an obvious "P-Shop job"):

Nonetheless, a nation that would so embellish its peacetime generals is bereft of contact with reality...

[PIF]

The US anti-missile (anti-ICBM) force can only hit other missiles if they are coming from an expected direction and their path has been predetermined before launch, and only if there are less than 7 missiles inbound, since 3 or 4 missiles will be launched at any given inbound from the stock of 20 in Alaska... Kim knows this which is why he’ll let fly with a dozen or more bound for cities from LA to Chicago. Practice your duck and cover and thank 0bama for gutting the anti-ICBM program ...