President Donald Trump would not rule out the use of military force against North Korea in an interview on CBS’s « Face the Nation » on Saturday, just hours after Pyongyang launched a missile test in defiance of international pressure.
Trump downplayed the significance of North Korea’s « small missile launch, » which occurred early Saturday. But when asked by host John Dickerson if he would consider military action in response to another nuclear test, Trump responded: « I don’t know. I mean, we’ll see. »
The missile blew up over land in North Korean territory, said US Navy Cmdr. Dave Benham, a spokesman for the US Pacific Command.
Trump cast the launch as a direct snub of China, one of North Korea’s only allies and a nation seen by the Trump administration as a potential US ally in efforts to stamp out Pyongyang’s nuclear program.
« North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today.
