Trump: Military Option Against North Korea Not a Priority but Would Be Devastating

The President of the United States states that his administration does not prioritize a military option to counter potential threats from North Korea, but if such an option is used, the outcome would be 'devastating.' Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Army spoke in the Senate about the current situation on the Korean Peninsula and its ongoing crisis. Donald Trump's recent statements are part of the warnings and threats exchanged between the United States and North Korea in recent weeks. The crisis on the Korean Peninsula has escalated following intercontinental missile tests and North Korea's strongest nuclear test. The UN Security Council has prohibited North Korea from conducting military nuclear tests and launching ballistic missiles, imposing severe sanctions on the country both in previous years and recently. On October 4, during a press conference at the White House, Trump referred to a possible military option against North Korea, stating, 'We are fully prepared to use the second option, not the one we prefer to execute.' He added, 'But if we take that action (the second option), it will be devastating, I can tell you, it will be devastating for North Korea. This option is military. If we have to, we will use it.' A day before these remarks, the U.S. government emphasized that contrary to North Korea's statements, it has not declared war on the country. Hours earlier, North Korea's foreign minister told reporters in New York, 'The world should remember well that it was the U.S. that first declared war against my homeland.' In his first speech at the UN, Trump stated that if Pyongyang does not back down from its current positions, his country would have no choice but to 'totally destroy North Korea.' In response, the North Korean leader stated that Trump would pay a heavy price for threatening North Korea with 'total destruction.' Despite these warnings and threats, the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff indicated in the Senate that there are no signs of major changes in North Korea's military posture. General Joseph Dunford, on October 4, stated in a meeting with the Senate Armed Services Committee that considering current urgencies, 'North Korea is definitely the biggest threat today.' Earlier, Reuters reported, citing an unnamed U.S. official, that satellite monitoring shows a small number of North Korean air forces and aircraft have been moved to the eastern coast of the country. However, these changes seem to have little impact on current assessments of the situation. General Dunford also mentioned that 'although the political atmosphere has become sensitive, we do not see a change in North Korea's military posture, and we are closely monitoring this issue.' The U.S. military recently conducted an unprecedented military exercise, flying its strategic bombers with protection from several F-15 fighters near the eastern coast of North Korea. Following this exercise, reports of military and weapon transfers in North Korea emerged.