What US options are ‘on the table’ with North Korea?
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has signaled that the U. S. will take a more aggressive approach to North Korea’s missile and nuclear program, including possibly through pre-emptive military action.
« All options are on the table, » particularly if North Korea continues making advances in its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons technologies, Tillerson said last week at a news conference in Seoul.
« If they elevate the threat of their weapons program to a level that we believe requires action, that option is on the table, » the top U. S. diplomat said in a comment widely interpreted to refer to the possibility of pre-emptive military force.
North Korea has stated that its goal is to develop a nuclear device small enough to be placed on a long-range missile capable of reaching the United States.
ABC News takes a look at what options are available to the U. S. if North Korea continues making progress in its nuclear and ballistic missiles programs.
Sanctions top the list
At the news conference in Seoul, Tillerson said the U. S. was « exploring a new range of diplomatic, security, and economic measures. «
The secretary of state said in a later interview with the Independent Journal Review that there were « a lot of steps and a lot of distance between now and a time that we would have to make a decision » on pre-emptive military force.
He described « a staged approach » for North Korea to stand down its nuclear program.
The first step would be full implementation of sanctions targeting North Korea that have already been imposed by existing United Nations Security Council resolutions. The U. S. could also consider unilateral sanctions or seek additional steps through the United Nations and also working with other countries in the region like China.
« It is not our objective to force them into some brash action, » Tillerson said of North Korea’s leaders.
« It’s our objective for them to understand things only continue to get more difficult if they don’t change their path.
