North Korea 'most urgent' threat to security - Mattis

[webfact]

North Korea 'most urgent' threat to security - Mattis

 

FILE PHOTO - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects the long-range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 (Mars-12) in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 15, 2017. KCNA via REUTERS/File photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Monday that North Korea's advancing missile and nuclear programs were the "most urgent" threat to national security and that its means to deliver them had increased in speed and scope.

 

"The regime’s nuclear weapons program is a clear and present danger to all, and the regime’s provocative actions, manifestly illegal under international law, have not abated despite United Nations’ censure and sanctions," Mattis said in a written statement to the House Armed Services Committee.

 

"The most urgent and dangerous threat to peace and security is North Korea," the statement added. "North Korea's continued pursuit of nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them has increased in pace and scope."

 

Earlier this month, the U.N. Security Council expanded targeted sanctions against North Korea after its repeated missile tests, adopting the first such resolution agreed by the United States and China since President Donald Trump took office.

 

The U.S. focus on North Korea has been sharpened by dozens of North Korean missile launches and two nuclear bomb tests since the beginning of last year and by Pyongyang's vow to develop a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland.

 

South Korea's top national security adviser said last week that Seoul did not aim to change its agreement on the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system to protect against North Korea, despite a decision to delay its full installation.

 

Chung Eui-yong called the decision to delay installation of remaining launchers of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, system, pending a review of its environmental impact, a domestic measure to ensure a democratic process.

 

(Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-06-13

[mesquite]

Thanks, Obama!

[PremiumLane]

mmm lets see which county has invaded, bombed and/or interfered with elections in over 15+ countries in the last century.... it ain't North Korea, but they are the 'security threat'?

[Kiwiken]

I think the biggest threat is Kim's haircut

[thaibeachlovers]

IMO more propaganda to justify spending billions on unnecessary military hardware. The Nth Koreans must know that even if they only get ONE nuclear missile on Japan, Sth Korea or the US, their country will be rubble.

 

IMO the greatest threat to humans is antibiotic resistance. If it keeps going the way it is, there will be a plague to make the Black Death a mere blip. Billions more people to die now than back in the middle ages.

[gazza4]

Ahhh, they must be bored at the pentagon

[ilostmypassword]

44 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO more propaganda to justify spending billions on unnecessary military hardware. The Nth Koreans must know that even if they only get ONE nuclear missile on Japan, Sth Korea or the US, their country will be rubble.

 

IMO the greatest threat to humans is antibiotic resistance. If it keeps going the way it is, there will be a plague to make the Black Death a mere blip. Billions more people to die now than back in the middle ages.

To drift even further off topic ..look up phages:

Also, some scientists have just engineered vancomycin to kill bacteria through 3 different weaknesses in the targeted bacteria. That will vastly decrease the likelihood of a successful bacterial mutation.

[soalbundy]

I would have thought that the biggest danger was Trump

[boomerangutang]

                          The biggest threat is the orange buffoon who will get suckered into responding to Kim's saber rattling. 

 

                         Every prez since Johnson has known that N.Koreans are mostly hot air, and have dealt with them as you would with a naughty child seeking attention.  However, Trump is himself like a naughty child, and you know what happens when you put two naughty children in the playpen together ....with weapons.

 

                     Trump is so easily taunted.  Kim is going to play him like a xylophone. 

[Rob13]

No worries now, Rodman's on the job. Unified Korea is imminent.

[boomerangutang]

N.Korea actually gained stature recently, thanks to Trump.

 

                           When Trump pulled out of the Paris Climate Accord, all the other nations of the world were disappointed in the US, the world's 2nd largest polluter.  N.Korea is one of the countries which is united with the rest of the world to try and make this a less polluted world.   Trump's USA is the odd kid on the block, therefore N.Korea gains a bit of respect, while the US loses.   The US will also lose jobs.   Even though there are many American innovators re; alternative power and environmental clean-up solutions, American reputation for being environmentalists has been ramped-down several notches due to Trump's stupid decision.   Other countries are now more likely to look to Europe, China, India, Australia and others for alt.power solutions.

[boomerangutang]

5 minutes ago, Rob13 said:

No worries now, Rodman's on the job. Unified Korea is imminent.

Kim likes basketball.  Trump likes golf.  Too bad both also have mental problems.  Maybe it has something to do with how they would rather watch bouncing balls, than try to be decent leaders.

[Dumbastheycome]

Until  the   "  intent" to use  the the  production  of  weaponry  is proven  then claims  of  a  security threat  are  no more  valid  than same  claims  about  any  other  nation that  already  has  such  weapons.

In reality it  would  appear  that  the  only  actual   hostile  actions over this  issue  have  been  made  by  a  collective  of  others.

In the  face of  that then claims  of  the  right  to   defence   are as  valid  as  any  other.

Despite  the apparent  lack of  lucidity  of  the   NK  leadership  I  doubt  suicide  is  a  desirable over  the  historic  process  of  extortion for  sustained  financial incentives  to   lower  the  profile.

Perhaps  it is  the  reverse  due  to   much  diversional   sword  rattling   in  many and  any  direction by   Sam  the  Little   Man that is  the  greater threat  to security?

 

[timkeen08]

To drift even further off topic ..look up phages:
Also, some scientists have just engineered vancomycin to kill bacteria through 3 different weaknesses in the targeted bacteria. That will vastly decrease the likelihood of a successful bacterial mutation.

Thanks for the info even if off topic. Vancomycin saved my life in 2005. Glad they have made advances against the vancomycin resistent mutations.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

[baboon]

1 hour ago, boomerangutang said:

  Trump is so easily taunted.  Kim is going to play him like a xylophone. 

Nobody else knows what gems the Trump White house will come up with next. One can't really blame unfriendly countries - or even friendly ones for that matter - for taking their own countermeasures.

[Stargeezr]

North Korea is still at threat, and I blame China  if NK ever does send a missle to any other country.

  The top nut job is just that, and everyone on NK is deathly afraid of him, especially his own family

members.  Rodman has not gone back to NK since his last highly published trip.  If any country is developing

coal mines, it is because countries like China, India, Russia and others still have coal fired power plants

and factories that demand coal to be used.  Think about that for a few minutes.  The same goes to oil and

gas products that the whole world uses.  Oh and even if some electric cars get built, look at all the other

gas and diesel powered vehicles in the world that will not be replaced for many years to come. Look at India for

example, do you think that that country will advance to electric anything in the next 50 years?

  Trains, Diesel big rigs, Diesel ships, etc will still exist as well.  Just so the Green people in the crowd

do not try to say that gas or diesel will be phased out any time soon. Besides lubrication will always be

needed.

Geezer

[anon4546543]

4 minutes ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

North Korea is still at threat, and I blame China  if NK ever does send a missle to any other country.

  The top nut job is just that, and everyone on NK is deathly afraid of him, especially his own family

members.  Rodman has not gone back to NK since his last highly published trip.  If any country is developing

coal mines, it is because countries like China, India, Russia and others still have coal fired power plants

and factories that demand coal to be used.  Think about that for a few minutes.  The same goes to oil and

gas products that the whole world uses.  Oh and even if some electric cars get built, look at all the other

gas and diesel powered vehicles in the world that will not be replaced for many years to come. Look at India for

example, do you think that that country will advance to electric anything in the next 50 years?

  Trains, Diesel big rigs, Diesel ships, etc will still exist as well.  Just so the Green people in the crowd

do not try to say that gas or diesel will be phased out any time soon. Besides lubrication will always be

needed.

Geezer

Nth Korea most urgent threat to security. The title of the post.

And you rant on about coal fired power stations.

 I think you got your posts and replies mixed up.

Along with blaming China, India and Russia for all the worlds pollution when US is the 2nd biggest polluter and for nearly a century was the worlds largest polluter.

[Stargeezr]

Ref the coal fired power stations, is in reference to someone going on about Australia opening

up a big coal mine. No demand for coal, no coal needs to be mined. But I digress this

is off topic to North Korea.I blame China as I have been there several  times and the pollution is still

horrible some days, Have you been to Russia to see how they are improving on their factories and

how they produce their power, Same goes for India, have you been there, I have and do not plan to

go back. Ok Spider guy or girl.

Geezer

[Scott]

Off-topic post reported and removed along with other posts.

[Krataiboy]

What I find surprising and gratifying about these postings is demonstrate that most of us no longer automatically believe everything the White House and their international acolytes tell us. I suspect we have the internet, and all those alternative news and information sites, to thank for this. Most of the "fake" news these days tends to be generated by the pro-Establishment mass media. Let's fight to make sure we keep those alternative voices.

[rijb]

22 hours ago, PremiumLane said:

mmm lets see which county has invaded, bombed and/or interfered with elections in over 15+ countries in the last century.... it ain't North Korea, but they are the 'security threat'?

Do you get all your world history/news from Sesame Street?