January 17, 2024
Is North Korea Really Getting Ready for a War Against America?
So, what is Kim Jong-un trying to accomplish? Kim apparently has a longer-term plan that could explain his 2024 provocations, nuclear weapon production, and threats of war.
by Bruce W. Bennett Follow @bwbennett on TwitterL
The ROK, the U.S., and Japan could also threaten Kim that if he launches an ICBM over the Pacific, they will constantly station one or more of their navy destroyers or cruisers in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) that will be ordered to shoot down any subsequent ICBMs Kim launches into the Pacific. They would need to publicly explain that such intercepts would be tests and could fail, but note that even failed intercepts would be useful in identifying and resolving potential problems with their missile defense systems against real North Korean missiles. And North Korea would be paying the cost of the targeted missile.
To balance the North’s continued nuclear weapon production the United States could threaten a four step escalating U.S. response to commit U.S. nuclear weapons for use in Korea as recently described in a RAND/Asan Institute report.