CIA Director Mike Pompeo said on Thursday the United States has to act as if North Korea is on the verge of being able to strike it with a missile and act accordingly – and that President Donald Trump is ready to do so.
The CIA director is one of several officials who have been suggesting there is a greater possibility of a military confrontation with North Korea which refuses to stop its efforts of developing nuclear weapons. Pompeo spoke at a forum organized by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies at which national security adviser Herbert R. McMaster also spoke, expressing a similar opinion.
In September, North Korea conducted its last nuclear test and recently excluded diplomacy with the U.S. until it develops a nuclear warhead capable of reaching the eastern coast of the United States. President Donald Trump has indicated he is prepared to take military action against the isolated regime.
McMaster further noted President Trump is not ready to accept a nuclear Pyongyang threatening the U.S., which puts imminent pressure on the administration to find a solution to the increasing tension between North Korea and the U.S. before war breaks out.
“He’s not going to accept this regime threatening the United States with nuclear weapons. So this puts us in a situation where we are in a race to resolve this short of military action,” McMaster said.
When asked about the chances of military conflict with North Korea, former CIA Director John Brennan said there was about 20 percent chance of that happening. He added there were numerous scenarios potentially leading to conflict, stressing they have to be avoided at all cost. However, the method President Trump is employing is not “a constructive and productive one,” said Brennan.
McMaster, on the other hand, praised the president for his leadership and handling of the crisis.
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