South Korean President: North Korea's Nuclear Ambitions Must Be Contained Peacefully

Moon Jae-in, the President of South Korea, stated on Monday, August 14, that North Korea's nuclear ambitions must be contained peacefully. According to Reuters, he spoke during a meeting with his senior aides and advisors, adding that another war should not occur on the Korean Peninsula. Moon's reference was to the Korean War in the early 1950s, which was one of the largest and deadliest military confrontations in modern history, leaving approximately 2.5 million civilian casualties. The war ended without a peace agreement, and both sides remain in a state of 'armistice'. In another part of his speech, the South Korean president expressed confidence that the United States would handle the current crisis on the Korean Peninsula calmly and responsibly. Previously, several senior American officials emphasized that Washington is still seeking a diplomatic solution to the North Korean nuclear issue. They also noted that the risk of military conflict, while not imminent, has increased compared to previous years. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, the CIA Director, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States have spoken in recent hours about North Korea, recent tensions following an intercontinental missile test, and UN Security Council sanctions. These remarks come shortly after verbal tensions escalated between the United States and North Korea; on one side, Donald Trump warned North Korea that it would face 'fire and fury' from the U.S., while on the other side, Pyongyang claimed it was planning a potential missile attack on U.S. bases in Guam. H.R. McMaster stated on Sunday, August 13, 'Compared to a week ago, we are not closer to war, but compared to a decade ago, we are closer.' However, McMaster emphasized that the U.S. continues its 'very determined diplomatic effort' led by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, while also seeking to increase sanctions against Pyongyang to compel Kim Jong-un and his leadership to halt the development of ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs. Trump’s advisor added that U.S. weapons are 'ready to fire every day.' This statement refers to a recent remark by the U.S. President that U.S. weapons are ready to be fired at North Korea. Mike Pompeo, the CIA Director, also stated that the U.S. strategic patience regarding North Korea's military program is nearing its end, but there is no imminent threat of conflict. Pompeo added, 'There is no [imminent] threat that will occur today.' He mentioned that the U.S. has a 'very good picture' of North Korea's intentions and that Kim Jong-un reacts to 'unfavorable conditions.' Meanwhile, the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is currently visiting Asia, told reporters that he intends to be informed about the current regional situation. General Dunford added that he would discuss potential military options if the current 'diplomatic and economic campaign' does not yield results. Joseph Dunford stated, 'We are looking to get out of this situation without a war.' In this context, according to the Itar-Tass news agency citing South Korea's Yonhap, Pyongyang has summoned its ambassadors in major countries for consultations. Additionally, Russian air forces and missile defense systems in the Far East have been put on alert, and missile defense systems have been deployed in Japan amid ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Trump once again threatened North Korea; China called for restraint. Washington and Seoul have reached an 'agreement' for transparency regarding actions related to North Korea. Trump remarked that perhaps his previous warning to North Korea was not severe enough.