The World Continues to Drift Towards War

Signs are beginning to point to the possibility that North Korea has lost its only friend. According to ZeroHedge.com, China has issued its final warning to North Korea:

“Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs junior minister invited Park Myung-ho, an official of North Korea, for a meeting. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the meeting and asked his junior to read aloud the warning to the North over the nuclear test.

"The memorandum mentioned that China will condemn strongly, pull back on all economic cooperation and even blockade North Korea if it conducted the test”.

If China carries out these threats, the regime in Pyongyang will be doomed. Yesterday it was reported that the U.S. has deployed the Global Hawk spy drone aircraft to Japan, in order to fly spy missions over North Korea. This is another example of Trump’s willingness to select a military solution to the North Korea problem. China has also advised their citizens residing in North Korea to leave.

In my opinion, the decision has already been made. It seems clear to me that the deployment of the Global Hawk is the final preparation needed before hostilities break out. Up to date intelligence will be needed on all targets in North Korea. The Global Hawk can achieve this objective. It also seems clear that China has been briefed on our intentions and seem to be coordinating their actions with the Trump Administration, at least on some level.

Ultimately, the question for China is which nation can they do without? North Korea has outlived its usefulness. The DPRK (the official name of North Korea) is little more than a parasite latched onto the Chinese government. China was content to keep the North safe if it didn’t negatively affect China’s place in the world. Since Kim Jong-un assumed power in 2011, the DPRK has become even more aggressive and unpredictable. They have threatened everyone from America to Australia.

I am certain President Trump is using every bit of economic leverage the U.S. has on China to tighten the screws on the Chinese communist party that runs that country. It seems the Chinese leadership has gotten the message. They have threatened to cut off oil exports to North Korea and they have advised their citizens living in North Korea to return home for their own safety.

It is unlikely the U.S. will ever get another chance to hit North Korea with a reasonable likelihood that the Chinese will not defend the Pyongyang regime. It appears President Trump aims to utilize this once in a lifetime opportunity.

I fear the President does not fully understand the situation. While it is certain the United States military could easily destroy the DPRK. The problem is, the unique character of the Pyongyang regime makes a mass-causality war inevitable. Aside from nuclear weapons, the North has vast stores of chemical weapons that they are more than willing to use. In the west, the use of chemical weapons is highly unusually. In North Korea, it is looked at as part of their regular military doctrine.

This entire engagement could blow up in Trump’s face. The U.S. population has not been properly prepared for the bloody onslaught that is about to be unleashed. There are approximately 30,000 American troops in South Korea. These forces are certainly prime targets for DPRK ballistic missiles. This will not just be a bloody war for Korea. Thousands of Americans will also become causalities. The air defense system in North Korea is much more potent than any other advisory we have faced since Vietnam. Therefore, the Trump administration has deployed a large number of armed drones to the region. Using drones will greatly reduce losses of U.S. pilots.

The greatest threat is to Seoul, which is within artillery range of North Korea. Thousands could be killed with little or no warning. It seems to me, that the bloody consequences of a war with North Korea have not been fully thought out. It is wrong to assume the Pyongyang regime will respond rationally to threats.

If a war breaks out and thousands die, Trump will be blamed. His so-called Korea policy supporters will abandon him. This will ensure Trump will be a one-term president. Perhaps that is why they are encouraging the President to continue this path.