Top US general reassures South Korea after meeting President Moon

SEOUL — The United States’ top general reassured South Korea that President Donald Trump is prioritising a diplomatic solution to tensions with North Korea, echoing comments from administration officials who sought to tamp down fears of imminent nuclear war.

General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, reaffirmed the US’ commitment to protect South Korea after a meeting with President Moon Jae-in, spokesman Park Su-hyun told reporters in Seoul on Monday (Aug 14). He added that the military option would only be used if diplomatic and economic pressure fail, Mr Park said.

“Dunford said the US’ security commitment for South Korea’s defence has not changed,” Mr Park told reporters after Mr Moon’s meeting with the general. “Dunford told Moon everyone hopes to resolve the current situation without going to war.”

Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo and national security adviser H R McMaster said in separate Sunday talk-show appearances that there is no indication war will break out. They both walked a fine line of backing the tough talk directed at Pyongyang, but not wanting to raise the alarm at home.

The comments suggest at least a temporary halt in the war of words between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which sparked fears of a miscalculation that could lead to an actual military conflict. Shares in Europe followed Asian equities higher and American stock futures advanced as the prospect of a war between the US and North Korea receded.

“I’ve heard folks talking about that we’re on the cusp of a nuclear war,” Mr Pompeo said on Fox News Sunday. “I’ve seen no intelligence that would indicate that we’re in that place today.”

Pompeo said that US intelligence has a “pretty good idea” about North Korea’s near-term intentions after monitoring recent intercontinental missile tests and the country’s improved ability to manufacture nuclear weapons.

Mr McMaster, appearing on ABC’s This Week, said: “we’re not closer to war than a week ago, but we are closer to war than we were a decade ago.”

Following Mr Trump’s vow to unleash “fire and fury” on North Korea, Mr Kim’s regime threatened to fire four Hwasong-12 missiles over Japan into waters near Guam, home to US military bases in the region. The US and its allies warned Mr Kim against such a move, and Japan deployed four Patriot missile interceptors into the western part of the country.

Some analysts expect further escalation in the coming days as both North and South Korea celebrate the Aug 15 anniversary of the end of Japan’s occupation of the Korean peninsula, and the latter conducts joint military exercises with the US from Aug 21. Japan is also holding annual military drills with the US over the next few weeks.

The US has not taken any public steps to prepare for hostilities, including evacuating Americans from Seoul, which is within range of North Korean artillery, or moving ships, aircraft or troops into position for an imminent response. The US has about 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea.

Mr Pompeo and Mr McMaster defended Mr Trump’s sometimes personal message aimed at Mr Kim.

Mr Trump “made clear that the United States will not tolerate our citizens or our allies being threatened by this rogue regime”, Mr McMaster said. “Our response is, we are prepared militarily to deal with this if necessary.”

Mr Pompeo said Mr Trump’s comments were designed to send an unambiguous message to the country that it needs to disarm its nuclear weapons and that the US will not tolerate a first strike. When asked whether he was confident Mr Kim would heed that message, he said: “It’s a very difficult situation in North Korea.”

Some former military and intelligence officials questioned whether the harsh rhetoric from the Trump administration is the right approach.

Mr James Clapper, director of national intelligence under President Barack Obama, said on CNN’s State of the Union that it was unclear what would set off Mr Kim. While Mr Trump’s goal of North Korea abandoning its nuclear weapons may be appealing, it is unrealistic, Mr Clapper said.

“That is their ticket to survival, and I don’t see any way that they’re going to give it up,” he said. “Our thought process here ought to be on accepting it and trying to cap it or control it.” BLOOMBERG