Military attack on North Korea ‘may be an option’: warns retired US general

North Korea fired ballistic missile into Sea of Japan on Wednesday

Following recent nuclear missile tests by North Korea, a retired four-star US General Jack Keane said that attacking the country’s nuclear facilities “may be the only option left” with the United States.

If the US was facing a looming attack from a North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), President Trump would have to act pre-emptively, Keane told Fox News.



“We’re rapidly and dangerously heading towards the reality that the military option is the only one left when it comes to getting North Korea to denuclearise and not weaponised [intercontinental ballistic missiles],” the retired US general added.

He maintained that “the Trump administration cannot accept a nuclear launch.”

“We cannot rely on our missile defence system to defeat it and expose the American people to a nuclear attack."

Keane said that the president is likely going to “try the diplomatic option to reverse North Korea’s nuclear program” during his meeting with the Chinese President.

The Trump administration has been more aggressive toward North Korea as compared to former president Barack Obama.

North Korea is behaving very badly. They have been "playing" the United States for years. China has done little to help!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2017

In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump said the US would be “totally” willing to “solve” the nuclear threat from North Korea with or without China’s help.

“China has great influence over North Korea. And China will either decide to help us with North Korea, or they won’t,” Trump said. “If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will.”

North Korea fired the ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan on Wednesday in what was seen as a warning ahead of the US-China summit. The KN-15 medium-range ballistic missile flew around 40 miles (60 kilometres).



According to CNN, the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has also said that “the clock has now run out and all options are on the table” in regard to North Korea.

“North Korea launched yet another intermediate range ballistic missile. The United States has spoken enough about North Korea. We have no further comment,” said Tillerson in a short statement on Tuesday after North Korea’s missile test.

Secretary Tillerson: The United States has spoken enough about North Korea. We have no further comment. https://t.co/ccVPjWTWdX

— Department of State (@StateDept) April 5, 2017

This story originally appeared on RT.