North Korean military officials stated Thursday that they are considering firing four missiles towards Guam. Meanwhile, Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to President Trump, said that the ‘ball is in Pyongyang’s court.’
North Korea’s strategic force is “seriously examining the plan for an enveloping strike at Guam through simultaneous fire of four Hwasong-12 intermediate-range strategic ballistic rockets in order to interdict the enemy forces on major military bases on Guam and to signal a crucial warning to the U.S.,” according to the Korean Central News Agency in English. The missiles fired would fly over Japan and land near the U.S. territory of Guam.
The N. Korean forces are drawing up the plans, and hope to submit the agenda to leader Kim Jun Un by mid-August for approval. On the other hand, the US has successfully brought about a unanimous decision within the United Nations to bring sanctions against the hermit state. It is, according to Gorka, up to North Korea to deescalate.
Upon being leveled with sanctions, it would appear as though; North Korea is refusing to submit to the ruling of the international organization that is the United Nations, in doing so, they risk war with the United States. Matter of fact, according to Defense Secretary Mattis; “The DPRK should cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime and the destruction of its people.”
However, prior to the new North Korean plans to simulate strike on Guam, according to Rex Tillerson; “What the president is doing is sending a strong message to North Korea in language that Kim Jong Un would understand, because he doesn’t seem to understand diplomatic language,” Tillerson told two pool reporters during a flight from Malaysia that had a scheduled refueling in Guam, according to The Washington Post. Also, Tillerson stated that Americans should sleep well at night.
Whether the new threat raises or lowers the escalation remains to be seen because Kim Jung Un is well known for his rhetoric and propaganda. If North Korea escalates, the situation more action will come from the United States and such could include military action, as all officials have stated the option is still on the table.
