US Studying Pre-emptive Strike on North Korea Amid Tension
The world is on alert after china warned of head-on collision between US and North Korea, while United States, Japan and South Korea studying option for first pre-emptive strike. The New York Times reported Sunday that President Trump’s national security deputies have discussed both the possibility of pre-emptive strikes that would almost certainly provoke an attack on South Korea and a reintroduction of nuclear weapons to the South. Intelligence officials say North Korea is already able to hit much of South Korea and Japan with a nuclear-tipped missile.
United States and South Korea deployed earlier than expected their first Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system in response to the North Korea simultaneously launch four missiles into waters off the Japanese North-East coast. The four ballistic missiles are launched from North Korea long-range rocket launch site. The missiles took off from Tongchang-ri, in northwest North Korea, and flew an average of 620 miles before falling into the sea between North Korea and Japan.
North Korea launch missiles to retaliate the United States and South Korea joint military drill in the region, and it vow to take further unspecified strong measures, while China’s top diplomat warned US and North Korea set for head-on collision. China`s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters at a press conference in Beijing that the two sides are like two accelerating trains coming towards each other, the question is are the two sides really ready for a head-on collision?
A report in China’s state news agency Xinhua said the deployment of THAAD could kick off an “arms race” in the region. “More missile shields of one side inevitably bring more nuclear missiles of the opposing side that can break through the missile shield,” the article said, suggesting China could accelerate its nuclear program. Wang called on the US and South Korea to ease tensions in the region by suspending annual joint military exercises that antagonize North Korea, in exchange for Pyongyang halting its nuclear program.
North appears to own several threatening nuclear warhead arsenal. The potential range of North Korea’s current weapons, particularly the KN-14 and KN-08 missiles, would put most of the world in reach of its nuclear warheads. SCUD B/C/ER has a range up to 600 miles, KN-11 range of 600 miles, NODONG range of 800 miles, MUSUDAN range of 2200 miles, KN-14 range of 6200 miles and the KN-08 have range of 7200 miles.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is heading to the region for talks next week, which are likely to include how to defuse the situation in North Korea.