North Korea accuses U.S. of declaring war

[webfact]

North Korea says U.S. 'declared war,' warns it could shoot down U.S. bombers

By Michelle Nichols and Christine Kim

 

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho addresses the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 23, 2017. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

 

NEW YORK/SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's foreign minister said on Monday President Donald Trump had declared war on North Korea and that Pyongyang reserved the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down U.S. bombers even if they are not in its air space.

 

Ri Yong Ho said a Twitter message by Trump on Saturday, in which the president warned that the minister and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "won't be around much longer" if they acted on their threats, amounted to a declaration of war.

 

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders on Monday denied the United States had declared war, calling the suggestion "absurd".

 

Speaking earlier in New York, where he had been attending the annual U.N. General Assembly, Ri told reporters: "The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country."

 

"Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country.

"The question of who won't be around much longer will be answered then," Ri added.

 

On Saturday, U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighters flew east of North Korea in a show of force after a heated exchange of rhetoric between Trump and Kim over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

 

"That operation was conducted in international airspace, over international waters, so we have the right to fly, sail and operate where legally permissible around the globe," Pentagon spokesman Colonel Robert Manning said on Monday.

 

North Korea, which has remained technically at war with the United States since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce and not a peace treaty, has been working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the U.S. mainland and conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test this month.

 

FEARS OF MISCALCULATION

 

Pyongyang, which has pursued its missile and nuclear programs in defiance of international sanctions, accuses the United States of planning to invade and regularly threatens to destroy it and its Asian allies.

 

However, recent rhetoric from both sides has been unusually harsh, raising fears of miscalculation that could have massive repercussions, even though U.S. officials have repeatedly stressed the administration prefers a negotiated solution.

 

The latest round of heavy verbal salvoes began when Trump threatened in his maiden U.N. address last Tuesday to "totally destroy" North Korea, a country of 26 million people, if it threatened the United States or its allies.

 

In an unprecedented direct statement on Friday, Kim called Trump a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard" he would tame with fire.

 

Kim said North Korea would consider the "highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history" against the United States and that Trump's comments had confirmed Pyongyang's nuclear programme was "the correct path".

 

Ri told the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday targeting the U.S. mainland with its rockets was inevitable after "Mr Evil President" Trump called Kim a "rocket man" on a suicide mission.

 

On Twitter late Saturday, Trump replied: "Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!"

 

On Monday, White House National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster defended Trump's rhetoric, saying he agreed with the U.S. president that the risk was that Kim Jong Un might fail to realise the danger he and his country were facing.

 

McMaster voiced confidence that the United States could, for example, impose a military blockade if it chose, perhaps even as a part of a multinational effort. But he acknowledged risks of escalation with any U.S. military option.

 

"We don't think there's an easy military solution to this problem. There's not a precision strike that solves the problem. There's not a military blockade that can solve the problem," he said, adding that ultimately it would come down to an international effort.

 

Still, McMaster told a conference hosted by the Institute for the Study of War, Washington was concerned a nuclear-armed North Korea capable of hitting the United States was likely to engage in "nuclear blackmail," for instance to try to achieve its goal of getting U.S. troops off the Korean peninsula.

 

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said it was vital Seoul and the United States handle the situation "with astuteness and steadfastness ... to prevent a further escalation of tension or any kind of accidental military clashes in the region which can quickly spiral out of control."

 

"There cannot be another outbreak of war on the Korean peninsula; the consequences would be devastating," she told Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies.

 

CALLS FOR RESTRAINT

 

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the most senior serving U.S. official ever to visit Pyongyang, said it was "important to lower the temperature" of rhetoric.

 

"I'm kind of concerned about accidents of some kind that might happen," she said.

 

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the only solution to the crisis was a political one.

 

"Fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

 

China, North Korea's neighbour and main ally, which has nevertheless backed U.N. sanctions over Pyongyang's nuclear programme, called for restraint on all sides.

 

"We want things to calm down. It's getting too dangerous and it's in nobody's interest," China's U.N. Ambassador Liu Jieyi told Reuters.

 

"We certainly hope (the United States and North Korea) will see that there is no other way than negotiations to solve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula ... The alternative is a disaster."

 

China's said it was vital that everyone implement all North Korea-related U.N. resolutions, which call for both tighter sanctions and efforts to resume dialogue.

 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking to British Prime Minister Theresa May by telephone, said he hoped Britain could play a constructive role in achieving a peaceful solution via talks, Chinese state media said.

 

Defence experts said North Korea would have difficulty shooting down a U.S. bomber with missiles or fighter planes given its limited capabilities, and if it tried and failed, would appear weak.

 

"It is unlikely to take such a risk," said Bruce Bennett of the Rand Corp think tank. "So this sounds like another attempt by North Korea to 'deter by bluster' U.S. actions the regime does not like."

 

Ri warned on Friday North Korea might test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean, in what would be North Korea's first atmospheric nuclear test. Experts said such a move, while perhaps not imminent, would be proof of North Korea's ability to successfully deliver a nuclear warhead on a missile.

 

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols in New York, Ben Blanchard in Beijing and Christine Kim in Seoul; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom, Idrees Ali, Doina Chiacu, Phil Stewart and Matt Spetalnick in Washington, Zhu Zhang in Beijing, Elizabeth Piper in London and Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo; Writing by Philip Wen and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Grant McCool and James Dalgleish)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-09-26

 

[USPatriot]

Why are they even a member.  I wonder when fat boy will be appointed to human rights ambassador 

[LannaGuy]

 including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country.

 

They are really asking for it, almost begging, for a conflict. Hope China steps in before it's too late but there is some sort of 'inevitability' about this.

[quadperfect]

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

I really do think kim is insane enough to shoot down a plane in international air space.

 

[Cory1848]

1 hour ago, quadperfect said:

I really do think kim is insane enough to shoot down a plane in international air space.

 

Perhaps, and it would indeed be insane of him to do so. But, playing devil’s advocate for a moment, imagine if Kim had a blue-water navy and could project air power across the ocean; what if he decided to buzz the coast of California with fighter jets, staying just outside US territorial waters but close enough to almost rattle the windows in the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco. After having threatened to “totally destroy” the United States in a bellicose speech at the UN. Don’t you think the US president, whether Trump or Obama or Bernie Sanders or whoever, would feel incredible pressure to go out and intercept those hostile planes?

[ezzra]

William T. Sherman quotes (showing 1-28 of 28) “It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.”

[oxo1947]

Braking news !!!

Live pictures as Kim Jong-Un calls Trump “Mentally deranged”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[craigt3365]

As usual, Trump stepped over the line.  What he said was totally out of line.  With that being said, a knee jerk reaction of saying you'll shoot down a plane in international airspace is just as stupid.

[Get Real]

A full blown psychopathic maniac in Kim, and a deranged and mentally ill in Trump. What could possibly go wrong?

[Yann55]

Schoolboys on a lethal combination of testosterone and steroids. Both of them. And World Peace is in the hands of those maniacs ...

At least the North Koreans have an excuse because their leader is a full blown dictator, but Trump ? Trump was elected ... that's the scariest part !

 

 

Edited September 26, 2017 by Yann55

[Rancid]

Economic war often leads to actual war, so in a way NK is correct that the US has declared war. Likewise the tried and proven flying your air-force around a country and stationing your ships offshore could hardly be called anything but intimidation and threat of invasion.

 

The US when formed was a shining beacon of light for a free society as opposed to the autocratic European monarchies, a great loss for humanity that the money men took it over and created the concept of perpetual war.

[craigt3365]

24 minutes ago, Rancid said:

Economic war often leads to actual war, so in a way NK is correct that the US has declared war. Likewise the tried and proven flying your air-force around a country and stationing your ships offshore could hardly be called anything but intimidation and threat of invasion.

 

The US when formed was a shining beacon of light for a free society as opposed to the autocratic European monarchies, a great loss for humanity that the money men took it over and created the concept of perpetual war.

So you are blaming the US for all of this?  Again? And North Korea has done nothing wrong?

 

Incredible.

[Borzandy]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

including shooting down U.S. bombers even if they are not in its air space.

Oh Oh suicidal man

[Stargeezr]

If North Korea accidently shoots down a Chinese commercial flight, will China finally do the right thing and take our their leaders and a bunch of the military there?

Just wondering how much would it take for China to quit supporting the Fat Boy?

Geezer

[ballpoint]

1 hour ago, Get Real said:

A full blown psychopathic maniac in Kim, and a deranged and mentally ill in Trump. What could possibly go wrong?

[Cory1848]

32 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

So you are blaming the US for all of this?  Again? And North Korea has done nothing wrong?

 

Incredible.

Nobody has said that North Korea has "done nothing wrong"; it is a horrendous and brutal regime. But the current government in Washington is largely responsible for the present state of affairs. You can laugh all you want, but Americans have no ability to see beyond their own nose, and that's a flaw that goes back well before the current administration.

[Morch]

1 hour ago, Rancid said:

Economic war often leads to actual war, so in a way NK is correct that the US has declared war. Likewise the tried and proven flying your air-force around a country and stationing your ships offshore could hardly be called anything but intimidation and threat of invasion.

 

The US when formed was a shining beacon of light for a free society as opposed to the autocratic European monarchies, a great loss for humanity that the money men took it over and created the concept of perpetual war.

 

Yeah, because Kim doesn't actually do anything of the sort - there weren't numerous incursions and attacks by North Korea on its southern neighbor, there are no artillery barrels pointed at Seoul, and there's no constant bellicose stream of statement and threats issued. That things with nuclear weapons and ballistic missile testing is a myth as well, presumably.

 

More like perpetual BS from some.

[Morch]

13 minutes ago, Borzandy said:

Oh Oh suicidal man

 

If it was a personal issue, many would say "go for it". As it may involve the involuntary "suicide" of a whole lot of other people, an altogether different matter.

[Morch]

3 minutes ago, Cory1848 said:

Nobody has said that North Korea has "done nothing wrong"; it is a horrendous and brutal regime. But the current government in Washington is largely responsible for the present state of affairs. You can laugh all you want, but Americans have no ability to see beyond their own nose, and that's a flaw that goes back well before the current administration.

 

Many on here seem to have trouble addressing the North Korean regime's actions or it's part in the situation. At best, there's a one liner followed by a lengthy justification as to how its the USA's fault regardless. Many on here conflate between North Korea and Kim, as well.

 

Trump sure doesn't help things, but he's not the underlying reason for the situation - he makes an existing mess worse. Not like Kim's regime was up to nothing before Trump.

[craigt3365]

10 minutes ago, Cory1848 said:

Nobody has said that North Korea has "done nothing wrong"; it is a horrendous and brutal regime. But the current government in Washington is largely responsible for the present state of affairs. You can laugh all you want, but Americans have no ability to see beyond their own nose, and that's a flaw that goes back well before the current administration.

That member has a history of posts critical of the US, and nobody else. LOL.  Sorry, but you can't blame Washington for this.  The entire UN Security Council voted for sanctions, along with heads of state from some 40+ countries.  All asking for NK to stop and for a Korean penninsula free of nuclear weapons.

 

So, not really fair to blame the US for this.  Though some try.

[Cory1848]

6 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

That member has a history of posts critical of the US, and nobody else. LOL.  Sorry, but you can't blame Washington for this.  The entire UN Security Council voted for sanctions, along with heads of state from some 40+ countries.  All asking for NK to stop and for a Korean penninsula free of nuclear weapons.

 

So, not really fair to blame the US for this.  Though some try.

My post condemned North Korea as a barbarian regime. But Trump bears responsibility for making a bad situation much, much worse by sinking to the same level and taking the conflict personally, knowing nothing about the region or its history (Korea was once a part of China?) and by refusing to educate himself while shunning the advice of those with experience (e.g., by gutting the State Department). I'm an American, by the way, and it's my right -- in fact, it's my duty -- to level criticism where criticism is due.

[craigt3365]

2 minutes ago, Cory1848 said:

My post condemned North Korea as a barbarian regime. But Trump bears responsibility for making a bad situation much, much worse by sinking to the same level and taking the conflict personally, knowing nothing about the region or its history (Korea was once a part of China?) and by refusing to educate himself while shunning the advice of those with experience (e.g., by gutting the State Department). I'm an American, by the way, and it's my right -- in fact, it's my duty -- to level criticism where criticism is due.

North Korea has been threatening nuclear strikes against various countries well before Trump came on the scene.  You are right, he's not making matters any better.  Only making them worse.  But we are where we are due to the actions of NK.  Nobody else to blame but them.

[Cory1848]

21 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

Many on here seem to have trouble addressing the North Korean regime's actions or it's part in the situation. At best, there's a one liner followed by a lengthy justification as to how its the USA's fault regardless. Many on here conflate between North Korea and Kim, as well.

 

Trump sure doesn't help things, but he's not the underlying reason for the situation - he makes an existing mess worse. Not like Kim's regime was up to nothing before Trump.

I don't think anyone here is wearing blinders regarding the nature of the North Korean regime. As you say, Trump makes an existing situation worse -- much, much worse -- with inflated rhetoric and stupid machismo.

[sawadeeken]

1 hour ago, Rancid said:

Economic war often leads to actual war, so in a way NK is correct that the US has declared war. Likewise the tried and proven flying your air-force around a country and stationing your ships offshore could hardly be called anything but intimidation and threat of invasion.

 

The US when formed was a shining beacon of light for a free society as opposed to the autocratic European monarchies, a great loss for humanity that the money men took it over and created the concept of perpetual war.

Then don't you think that Kim should negotiate and try to develop 'friendly relations' as a very large part of the world has been able to do.............

Rather than claiming it is his goal to have nuclear weapons that can wipe out the whole of the US Which would also affect Canada and Mexico.......... It is asinine of Kim and 'unofficially maybe' he is threatening war and that is a declaration of war in itself......... Trump is just a thoughtless 'big mouth' who is in his own clumsy way just acknowledging  Kim's declaration of war............

[digger70]

1 hour ago, craigt3365 said:

So you are blaming the US for all of this?  Again? And North Korea has done nothing wrong?

 

Incredible.

Yep,The Un & the USA  are using Standover  tactics,They should have left NK playing with their toys (Nukes) The USA got them and a few other Countries do have them . The rest of the World isn't crying War about That isn't it?

[Cory1848]

13 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

North Korea has been threatening nuclear strikes against various countries well before Trump came on the scene.  You are right, he's not making matters any better.  Only making them worse.  But we are where we are due to the actions of NK.  Nobody else to blame but them.

Well, OK, I suppose one can debate about where most of the blame lies -- one can go back to Truman for sending the wrong signals to Stalin about US boundaries of interest post-WWII -- but moving forward it's hard to see how Trump can be part of any solution at this point. I wish there were some way to lock him up in his playroom with his toy soldiers and battleships and let the adults take over from here. <sigh>

[craigt3365]

18 minutes ago, digger70 said:

Yep,The Un & the USA  are using Standover  tactics,They should have left NK playing with their toys (Nukes) The USA got them and a few other Countries do have them . The rest of the World isn't crying War about That isn't it?

You're missing the bigger picture.  It's call non-proliferation.  NK is not concerned about that and would gladly sell technology to any country with cash.

 

Nukes are hardly toys.

[funandsuninbangkok]

5 hours ago, quadperfect said:

I really do think kim is insane enough to shoot down a plane in international air space.

 

Would not be first time

 

trump ha shown restraint 

 

missle over a Japan a few weeks ago was completely unacceptable

 

us practices citizen evacuations regularly in SK. Next drill for real?

[funandsuninbangkok]

China is allied with NK. 

 

If caca hits aircon, my quess is we burn them also

 

dui bu qui 

 

Edited September 26, 2017 by funandsuninbangkok

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Well, I at least have to give the maniac Kim credit for one thing --  his use of the English language.

 

When he first called Trump a "dotard," considering the target of his jibe, I thought he meant to call Trump a "retard," which would be fitting for the subject.

 

But no, Kim was using a word I don't think I've ever heard used before, and I know I've never used before -- DOTARD -- an old person, especially one who has become weak or senile.

For all his faults, I don't think Trump is weak.  But senile, mentally deranged, some kind of a retard, well, I'll leave open any judgment on those qualities.