Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon that there are military options for North Korea that don't put Seoul, South Korea's capital, at risk, NBC News' Hans Nichols reports. Mattis added he would "not go into details" but that there are "many military options in concert with our allies."
North Korea has artillery aimed at Seoul, just 35 miles away, meaning an attack on North Korea is likely to put the city of 10+ million people under threat of imminent military attack. It's hard to imagine a plan that completely removes that threat, but that seems to be what Mattis is suggesting.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged in a New York Times op-ed Sunday for the international community to ramp up pressure against North Korea, zeroing on the notion that more diplomacy and dialogue with Pyongyang would be a "dead end," as Pyongyang would see more talks as proof that other countries "succumbed" to the threat of its missile launches.
On theUN Security Council's new round of sanctions: Abe describes them as an "important step," but acknowledges that North Korean leadership has consistently ignored most of its commitments.
On the potential use of military force: Abe said he "firmly support[s]" the U.S. position that "all options are on the table."
His bottom line: "Now is the time to exert the utmost pressure on the North. There should be no more delays."
