N Korea Threatens To "Wring The Windpipes" Of Yankee Aggressors
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WASHINGTON (CBSMiami) - Tensions between the U.S., South Korea, and North Korea got a break on Tuesday as Koreans celebrated a holiday known as "Liberation Day."
It was thought North Korean leader Kim Jong-un might use the occasion to test another missile. Instead, he seems to be signaling that he's not interested in going to war with the United States. But that didn't stop him from launching another war of words at the U.S.
The North Korean dictator said "if the Yankees persist in their extremely dangerous reckless actions on the Korean peninsula" then his military "will wring their windpipes" and "point daggers at their necks."
Defense Secretary James Mattis said that the military is ready to respond in case Kim changes his mind.
"Here in the Pentagon, we are part of the sentinels for our nation and we stand ready to defend it," he said.
The real threat is a North Korean missile capable of hitting the U.S. After several failed tests in 2016, North Korea has now successfully built and launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles, despite heavy international sanctions.
Michael Elleman, a Senior Fellow for Missile Defense at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, has closely monitored North Korea's capabilities for years. He said the regime's sudden advancements mean it has received some sort of help.
Those missile advancements convinced China, who is North Korea's main trade partner, to go along with tough new UN sanctions. On Monday, they banned all imports of North Korean coal, iron ore, and seafood.
Despite all of the tough talk, Secretary Of State Rex Tillerson reiterated the Trump administration stance that diplomacy is the first choice to resolve the situation.
"We continue to be interested in finding a way to get to dialogue, but that's up to him," Tillerson said.
One impediment to diplomacy is next week's scheduled military exercises with the U.S. and South Korea.
North Korea claims the drills are rehearsals for an invasion.
