U.S. Defense Secretary: Diplomacy Must Impose Logic on North Korea

James Mattis, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, emphasized during a meeting with South Korean Defense Minister in Hawaii that diplomacy is the approach to dealing with the North Korean regime. A day earlier, the South Korean Foreign Minister had stated that a military solution is unacceptable. According to Reuters, Mr. Mattis, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said, "Diplomacy must impose logic on Kim's provocative and dangerous slogans and behavior." He added, "The response to this threat remains diplomacy supported by military options to ensure that our diplomats' words are understood and they can engage from a position of strength." The Trump administration has stated that all options are on the table regarding North Korea's nuclear-armed missile programs that could target U.S. soil. However, James Mattis has consistently emphasized non-military actions, including international sanctions. During his meeting with the South Korean Defense Minister in Hawaii, the headquarters of U.S. forces in the Pacific, he reiterated this point. South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo also mentioned that he is set to negotiate with Mr. Mattis regarding North Korea and noted that there is strong coordination between the two countries. He stated, "Both sides understand each other well as allies, and we always move together." The meeting of the U.S. and South Korean defense ministers took place on Friday, and Reuters recalls that a day before this meeting, Kang Kyung-wha, the South Korean Foreign Minister, said that the crisis regarding North Korea's nuclear programs must be resolved diplomatically and added that she is confident that if a military option is to be considered, Washington will definitely consult with South Korea. She did not say that the U.S. government has given Seoul complete assurance in this regard but added, "Our fate is intertwined, and any option chosen regarding the Korean Peninsula will not be feasible without our cooperation." After the first negotiations between the two Koreas in over two years in recent weeks, officials from both countries held further meetings to discuss how North Korean athletes would participate in the Winter Olympics being held in South Korea. The North Korean government has launched a wide-ranging propaganda campaign in this regard, calling on "all Koreans inside and outside the country" to strengthen cooperation between the two Koreas. At the same time, the North Korean government has designated a new anniversary as the founding day of its army, which will be held on February 8, just one day before the opening of the Winter Olympics. Mike Pence, the U.S. Vice President, who will represent the U.S. at the Olympics, said on Thursday that he will work to counter North Korea's propaganda efforts to exploit the Olympics.