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A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 14 august 2017

U.S. officials say confrontation with NKorea not imminent

By RICHARD LARDNER said the United States and
Associated Press its allies no longer can af-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Se- ford to stand by as North
nior U.S. national security Korea pushes ahead with
officials said Sunday that a the development of a nu-
military confrontation with clear-tipped intercontinen-
North Korea’s is not immi- tal ballistic missile.
nent, but they cautioned “We’re not closer to war
that the possibility of war than a week ago but we
is greater than it was a de- are closer to war than we
cade ago. were a decade ago,” Mc-
CIA Director Mike Pompeo Master said, adding that
and Army Lt. Gen. H.R. Mc- the Trump administration is
Master, President Trump’s prepared to deal militarily
national security adviser, with North Korea if neces-
tried to provide assuranc- sary.
es that a conflict is avoid- But he stressed that the U.S.
able, while also supporting is pursuing “a very deter-
Trump’s tough talk. They mined diplomatic effort”

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, right, and United States Forces Korea Commander
Gen. Vincent Brooks, second from right, greets a helicopter flight crew as he arrives at Osan Air
Base, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, in Pyeongtaek, South Korea.
Associated Press

led by Secretary of State longer going to have the ping, made a plea for cool-
Rex Tillerson that’s coupled strategic patience that it’s headedness in a phone
with new financial sanc- had that has permitted him conversation with Trump on
tions to dissuade North Ko- to continue to develop his Saturday, urging both sides
rean leader Kim Jong Un weapons program,” Pom- to avoid words or actions
from further provocations. peo said. “It’s that straight- that could worsen the situ-
“The U.S. military is locked forward.” ation. The call came after
and loaded every day,” The top U.S. military officer, Trump made fresh threats
McMaster said, repeating Marine Corps Gen. Joseph against North Korea on
Trump’s threat. Dunford, is traveling in Asia Friday, declaring the U.S.
Pompeo said “there’s noth- and expected to meet with military “locked and load-
ing imminent today,” in re- leaders in South Korea, Ja- ed” and warning Kim that
sponse to a question about pan and China. Dunford, he “will regret it fast” if he
how worried should people the chairman of the Joint takes any action against
be over the escalating ten- Chiefs of Staff, told report- U.S. territories or allies.
sions. He said the U.S. has ers traveling with him that Trump has pushed China
a “pretty good idea” of he aims to “sense what the to pressure North Korea to
North Korea’s intentions, temperature is in the re- halt a nuclear weapons
but Pompeo declined to gion.” He also will discuss program that is nearing the
provide specifics. The CIA military options in the event capability of targeting the
chief described Kim as “ra- the “diplomatic and eco- United States. China is the
tional” and responsive to nomic pressurization cam- North’s biggest econom-
“adverse circumstances.” paign” fails. ic partner and source of
“The reaction in North Ko- “We’re all looking to get aid, but says it alone can’t
rea that we are intending out of this situation without compel its wayward ally to
to get is an is an under- a war,” Dunford said. end its nuclear and missile
standing that America is no China’s president, Xi Jin- programs.q