Sunday, the White House, U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and others promptly evaluated all options available to deal with North Korea hours after North Korea tested its most powerful nuclear weapon yet.
While President Trump tweeted, Mattis put out his own statement at a press conference.
President Trump tweeted, “I will be meeting with General Kelly, General Mattis and other military leaders at the White House to discuss North Korea. Thank you.”
Donald Trump Tweet (Twitter)
Trump continued, “The United States is considering, in addition to other options, stopping all trade with any country doing business with North Korea.”
Donald Trump Tweet (Twitter)
The North Korean test, which caused a 6.3 earthquake and was roughly five times as large as the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima, Japan immediately drew worldwide condemnation.
In the press conference Mattis warned of a “massive” and “overwhelming” military response to North Korea’s continued provocation after he and others met with President Donald Trump to discuss all available options.
Mattis added, “Kim Jong-un should take heed of the United Nations Security Council’s unified voice. All members unanimously agreed on the threat North Korea poses and remain unanimous in their commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
“Any threat to the United States or its territories, including Guam, or our allies will be met with a massive military response, a response both effective and overwhelming,” said Mattis.
Mattis then concluded with, “We are not looking to the total annihilation of a country, namely North Korea, but as I said, we have many options to do so.”
After the North Korean nuclear test on Sunday morning Trump tweeted “North Korea has conducted a major Nuclear Test. Their words and actions continue to be very hostile and dangerous to the United States.”
Donald Trump Tweet (Twitter)
Trump continued, “…North Korea is a rogue nation which has become a great threat and embarrassment to China, which is trying to help but with little success.”
Donald Trump Tweet (Twitter)
Trump’s conclusion tweet, “South Korea is finding, as I have told them, that their talk of appeasement with North Korea will not work, they only understand one thing!”
Donald Trump Tweet (Twitter)
Last month President Trump threatened, twice, to bring “fire and fury like the world has never seen” to North Korea if it continued to threaten the United States with nuclear missiles.
