US options to deal with North Korea squeezed by new threats of violence
If the rogue state doesn't heed international warnings then conflict may soon be the only option left for the United States.
Tuesday 5 September 2017 05:23, UK
After months of escalating tension, the greatest threat so far - claims North Korea has tested a hydrogen bomb.
The US defence secretary was the one chosen to issues the United States' first official response on camera and General Mattis' statement was a clear and measured warning.
With General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at his side, he said: "Any threat to the United States or its territories, including Guam, or our allies will be met with - a response both effective and overwhelming."
He was reminding Kim Jong Un that if it came down to a military challenge then the US would obliterate them.
He was also highlighting that this isn't just the US vs North Korea but their allies are sticking together and they have the backing of the UN Security Council in their desire to see the denuclearisation of North Korea.
And then in his final pointed ending, James Mattis was underlining that America doesn't want to see the "total annihilation" of North Korea, but in the footnotes of the speech an unspoken reminder that this was always a possibility.
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What does it all mean? Essentially, this was a more tempered version of Donald Trump's fire and fury comments from last month.
It also offers an important insight into the possible solutions being put before the President.
The defence secretary said they had briefed Mr Trump on a whole raft of possibilities, both diplomatic and military.
The President has already indicated that he is looking at increasing economic pressures on North Korea, warning that anyone who trades with them could be punished.
On Twitter he said that the US is considering "stopping all trade with any country doing business with North Korea".
This statement ramps up the pressure on China, which is Pyongyang's main trading partner as well as their source of energy.
Both China and Russia have confirmed they agree "to adhere to the goal of the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula", and the United Nations Security Council will meet on Monday to discuss Mr Kim's latest provocation.
Ultimately, though, every threat of violence squeezes the options available to the US.
If North Korea doesn't heed the warnings and diplomatic solutions fail then in the end conflict may be the only possibility left on the table.