Will Trump Attack North Korea?

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Only a lunatic would launch it, plenty around in Washington, key ones running Trump's warmaking agenda.

Following North Korea's Tuesday ballistic missile test, warrior President Trump blustered:

"The world has received North Korea's latest message loud and clear. (It) signaled its contempt for its neighbors, for all members of the United Nations, and for minimum standards of acceptable international behavior."

"Threatening and destabilizing actions only increase the North Korean regime's isolation in the region and among all nations of the world. All options are on the table."

North Korea "signaled" it's forced to prepare for possible US aggression. Its behavior is understandable given the menace Washington represents. 

It threatens no other nation. America's imperial agenda threatens everyone everywhere.

The DPRK's UN envoy Han Tae-Song issued a statement saying:

"Now that the US has openly declared its hostile intention towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, by waging aggressive joint military exercises despite repeated warnings…my country has every reason to respond with tough counter-measures as an exercise of its right to self-defense."

America is "wholly responsible for the catastrophic consequences it will entail."

China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying warned about things "at a tipping point approaching a crisis," adding: 

"At the same time, there is an opportunity to reopen peace talks. We hope relevant parties can consider how we can de-escalate the situation on the peninsula and realize peace and stability."

A South Korea statement said "(w)e will respond strongly based on our steadfast alliance with the United States if North Korea continues nuclear and missile provocations."

On Monday, South Korean intelligence claimed Pyongyang completed preparations for another nuclear test at its Punggre-ri test site.

If so, it's possibly scheduled for September 9, the anniversary of the state's founding, the date of its last test in 2016.

Pyongyang believes joint US military exercises with South Korea and Japan are preparations for war.

Its UN envoy Ja Song Nam, called them "provocative and aggressive" at a time when the Korean peninsula is "like a time bomb."

The DPRK never preemptively attacked another country. It threatens none now. 

The ball is in Trump's court. Correction: it's for hawkish generals in charge of warmaking to decide whether to wage war or peace.

VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.