Analysis & Opinions - The New York Times

White House Weighs Response to North Korea’s Threats

| Sep. 22, 2017

WASHINGTON — The war of words between President Trump and Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s leader, raised concerns on Friday that it could escalate into a new and more volatile phase as the White House weighed its next steps in response to a threat by Pyongyang to conduct the world’s first atmospheric nuclear test in 37 years.

Mr. Trump derided Mr. Kim as a “madman” on Friday, hours after the North Korean called him a “mentally deranged U.S. dotard,” the sort of name-calling exchange most presidents have avoided. North Korea’s accompanying warning that it might test a nuclear bomb over the Pacific Ocean added fresh urgency to an administration debate over options for a pre-emptive strike if preparations for a launch are detected.

Mr. Trump’s long-distance confrontation with “Rocket Man,” as he earlier dubbed Mr. Kim, defied diplomatic convention and took the penchant for reality-show insults that he perfected on the campaign trail to the international arena — only with potential real-world consequences.

Want to Read More?

The full text of this publication is available via the original publication source.
Read Full Article
For more information on this publication: Belfer Communications Office
For Academic Citation: Sanger, David and Peter Baker.“White House Weighs Response to North Korea’s Threats.” The New York Times, September 22, 2017.

The Authors

Peter Baker

Recommended
In the Spotlight
RSS
While offsets are imperfect, they may be necessary to reach ambitious short-term environmental goals.
More on Energy
Danielle F. Jung and Dara Kay Cohen argue that lynching emerges when neither the state nor its challengers have a monopoly over legitimate authority.
More on International Security
Western models partly inspired the creation of Special Operation Command and Military Police and the development of private military companies.
More from Russia Matters
Most Viewed

Tags