As steps toward diplomacy between North Korea and South Korea take place, the United States is reportedly considering mounting limited military strikes against the North.
The Wall Street Journal reports the United States is considering implementing a “bloody nose” strategy of reacting to nuclear or missile tests by striking specific North Korean facilities. The move would be to show, on a small scale, what the North would face if a conflict escalated further.
News of the United States strategy comes on the heels of President Donald Trump tweeting last week that the size of his “nuclear button” was “bigger and more powerful” than any button North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had.
Any attack—even targeted strikes like the ones described in the “bloody nose” strategy—would come with risk. If provoked, North Korea reportedly has the capability to attack South Korea quickly, which could result in thousands of casualties. Meanwhile, NPR reports that U.S. soldiers are being trained to fight in tunnels in preparation for any potential warfare that takes place in North Korea.
However, de-escalation efforts are also underway.
The upcoming talks between North Korea and South Korea are the first major dialogue between the two nations in years. Trump took credit for the talks occurring between the two nations, saying he didn’t think they would happen if he wasn’t “firm, strong and willing to commit our total ‘might’ against the North.”
The North has also agreed to send Olympic athletes to the South in a show of goodwill in February.
The war-of-words between Trump and North started in earnest over the summer. The president responded to threats from Kim Jong-un by saying the United States would unleash “fire and fury” against the nation. Then, during a speech at the United Nations, Trump threatened to “totally destroy” the country. He also referred to Jong-un as “little rocket man” on several occasions.
You can read all of the Wall Street Journal‘s report here.