Twenty and Counting

North Korea has launched 20 (yes, twenty) missiles this year. And we still have a month to go. Tensions on the Korean peninsula are at an all-time high, and as we look back on the Trump administration’s response to Kim Jong-un’s reckless and relentless pursuit of a nuclear-armed ICBM arsenal capable of hitting the US, it appears that three strategies have been used:

1. A concerted effort to implement and enforce sanctions on the 3rd generation dictator and his regime. Unfortunately, it’ll take time and patience to see results, if ever.

2. An attempt - largely unsuccessful - to get China to cut its economic lifeline to the rogue nation. This also is a long shot and, realistically, isn’t likely to happen. The Chinese Communist Party has no reason to push Kim into a position that causes regime change. The last thing Xi Jinping wants is millions of refugees spilling into China. Even more terrifying to him and his cronies is democracy - freedom of speech and an open society - on his border.

3. Intimidation and threats. Over the past 11 months we've seen Trump’s “fire and fury” tweets and bombastic “we’ll totally destroy North Korea" speech at the United Nations and Sec. of State Tillerson’s “diplomatic efforts will continue until the first bomb drops.”

More recently, we've heard US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley say, “And if war comes, make no mistake, the North Korean regime will be utterly destroyed; ” Senator Lindsey Graham predict that “we’re headed to a war if things don’t change;" and Sec. of Defense Mattis warn that “a massive military response, effective and overwhelming,” will take place if North Korea continues its behavior.

Today, White House national security adviser HR McMaster said he thinks the potential for war is "increasing every day."

We’re in a predicament that has no easy solutions. North Korea’s intentions have been obvious for decades, but unfortunately, the US and the world have done little to stop the increasingly volatile and dangerous situation. At this point, vigilance and deterrence are our only viable options.

2018 could be a critical year for the Korean peninsula.