In a candid assessment of the North Korea situation, the Pentagon responded to a letter from Reps. Ted Lieu of California and Ruben Gallego of Arizona, saying that the only way to find and destroy North Korea’s nuclear weapons capabilities was through a ground invasion.
Delivered by Rear Adm. Michael J. Dumont of the Joint Staff, the assessment sums up the Pentagon’s plan of action, should the situation escalate to one of potential war between the United States and North Korea.
Tensions in the Korean Peninsula as well as the White House are at all-time highs as the U.S. conducted military exercises last week, flying two bombers near North Korean territory resulting in verbal retaliation from the country’s media.
Pentagon’s assessment of the situation received a reaction from sixteen lawmakers – all military veterans. In a joint statement on Saturday, one Republican and 15 Democratic lawmakers stated that the Pentagon’s assessment was “deeply disturbing” and that an action of that kind “could result in hundreds of thousands, or even millions of deaths in just the first few days of fighting.” The document adds that a massive and protracted ground war would be disastrous for U.S. troops and allies.
“There are no good military options for North Korea. Invading North Korea could result in a catastrophic loss of lives for U.S. troops and U.S. civilians in South Korea. It could kill millions of South Koreans and put troops and civilians in Guam and Japan at risk.”
The Pentagon’s assessment also talks about North Korea potentially having access to biological weapons, and that it might consider using them despite its obligations to the international community. In addition, the Pentagon also said that the errant nation could also have a chemical weapons stockpile.
The real impact of a war with North Korea is a variable at this point. One report by the Congressional Research Service published in October estimates at least 25 million casualties, including 100,000 U.S. citizens, military personnel and civilians across both sides of the border.
The Pentagon, however, suggests that it is extremely difficult to estimate human losses, and added that it would depend on the duration, intensity and nature of the attack on North Korea. It also suggests that a classified briefing would be required to evaluate how the U.S. and allied forces might eliminate the nuclear threat posed by North Korea.
The Pentagon assessment and the response from lawmakers comes at a time when President Trump begins his Asia tour, and the North Korea issue is definitely at the top of his list. He has already cast aside diplomatic measures, calling Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s campaigns as “wasting his time”, adding that “only one thing will work.”
Despite the President’s tirades on Twitter and his frequent venting against North Korea and its leader Kim Jong Un, this is the first time that there’s been talk of a ground attack.
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