Our readers share their thoughts on Kim Jong Un’s nuclear threats and President Trump’s response.
Letter to the editor:
As North Korea gets closer to the ability to threaten the U. S. with a nuclear missile, action has to be taken — either diplomatic or military. Unfortunately, there is no single effective solution to the Korean missile and nuclear weapon program. There are at least four solutions that can be tried simultaneously:
First would be increased sanctions against North Korea.
Second, harsher sanctions against its major supporter, China, hoping that it can bring North Korea to its senses.
Third, and very unlikely to succeed, negotiation with North Korea. With Kim Jong Un as its leader, it will probably renege on its promises.
Fourth, and most likely to weigh the most, is the threat of a pre-emptive military strike targeting in particular Kim’s base.
Will the combination work? Probably not, but it will put on record that Kim would be eliminated as head of North Korea if he continued to persist in his combined nuclear weapon/ballistic missile programs.
Nelson Marans; New York
Comments are edited for clarity and grammar:
I’ ve known for a long time that North Korea would eventually have to be dealt with. Every president back to Bill Clinton has avoided this. Now, after decades of kicking the can down the road, North Korea will soon be a serious threat. The U. S. could hit North Korea in 20 minutes and the result would be catastrophic. I like to think the United Nations realizes that.
— Gregg Roberts
Someone needs to show Kim Jong Un what the U. S. is all about. Sadly, I’ m afraid the citizens of South Korea will suffer the most.
— Stephanie S. Mullen Fudge
Thank President Obama for doing nothing for eight years! Thank God we have a real leader in the White House now. Show them who’s the boss, Mr. President!
— Dwayne Landry
North Korea is about to be tamed, and that will mean great things for its people. Let’s hope our allies strike before Kim Jong Un nuking Japan or the U. S.
— Bruce Cheyney
How reassuring is it to have a loud mouth, impetuous, child like bully, with no idea what he’s doing, with his tiny fingers on the nukes?
— Cody Johnson
North Korea has already demonstrated numerous times that it cannot be trusted. The only realistic option left appears to be a massive pre-emptive military strike by the U. S.
— Bradford Talamon
More: Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O’Brien, James Corden and Jimmy Fallon on nuclear threats in Best of Late Night
Our followers shared their thoughts on North Korea’s threat to strike Guam. Tweets are edited for clarity and grammar:
If we give President Trump Xanax, take his phone away and tell him he’s great right now, we could save ourselves from World War III.
— @THECamBatterton
Thanks to Trump’s big mouth! Hey, North Korea, we can trade Trump for your nukes.
— @RhondaGrantCott
All these back-and-forth threats are very provocative and achieve nothing good!
— @Rich_893
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