Kim Jong Un begins the new year, the new decade with threats of ‘shocking’ action and an unknown new ‘strategic weapon’ that they will reportedly reveal soon:
CBN NEWS – Expressing deep frustration over stalled nuclear talks, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned of unspecified “shocking” action and that his country will soon reveal a new “strategic weapon” to the world as its bolsters its nuclear deterrent in face of “gangster-like” U.S. pressure.
Kim also said North Korea was no longer obligated to maintain a self-imposed suspension on the testing of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, which President Donald Trump has touted as a major diplomatic accomplishment. But Kim gave no clear indication that a resumption of such tests was impending and appeared to leave the door open for eventual negotiations.
Kim has used the diplomatic stalemate to expand his military capabilities by intensifying tests of shorter-range weapons. His arsenal is now estimated to include 40-50 nuclear bombs and various delivery systems, including solid-fuel missiles designed to beat missile-defense systems and developmental ICBMs potentially capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.
It’s being reported that this ‘new strategic weapon’ is probably a nuclear ICBM:
Strategic weapons usually refer to nuclear-capable delivery systems such as ICBMs, but North Korea otherwise has been vague about what new arms it would display. It announced in December that it performed two “crucial” tests at its long-range rocket launch site that would further strengthen its nuclear deterrent.
John Bolton tweeted that in response to these threats Trump should resume all military exercises in South Korea and hold Congressional hearings on the readiness of our troops to “fight tonight”:
How to respond to Kim Jong Un’s threatening New Year’s remarks? The U.S. should fully resume all canceled or down-sized military exercises in South Korea. Hold Congressional hearings on whether US troops are truly ready to “fight tonight.”
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) January 1, 2020
I think it surprises none of us that Trump’s denuclearization negotiations with Un have failed – not because Trump didn’t try, clearly he did. But most of us never believed any substantial progress would be made on the denuclearization front because Un just isn’t a good-faith and trustworthy actor.
But now that all these failed negotiations are out of the way, Trump’s in a much stronger position now and should treat Un’s threats like some were suggesting early on, by parking military aircraft carriers and anti-missile defense systems off the coast of N. Korea, daring him to make good on his threats.