*The installation of a missile shield, i.e., a defense system in South Korea which would be used to shoot down North Korean ICBM's just after they are launched. This is an excellent option. However, after a massive amount of funding, the Pentagon has not yet been able to fully develop such a sophisticated system. It's important to keep working on it because it would be the answer in the current situation as well as becoming a major part of a U.S. mainland defense system.
*Many expert observers believe that it is not likely that a military conflict will erupt between the U.S. and North Korea. It is very likely that, in the not too distant future, North Korea will become just one more world nuclear power; that is its main goal, from which it will not be deterred, is to possess a nuclear capability that will provide it with the safety and security that its leaders so desperately crave.
*The best option of all would be for China to use its huge influence to convince its neighbor to put its nuclear program on held pending mutual talks between all parties. China could use intense pressure and even sanctions. This might work but China continues to resist the prodding by the U.S. to do just that. Its leaders are very reluctant to take such measures because, for one, they don't want to jeopardize their mutually beneficial trade relationship with North Korea in any way.
Another reason is that North Korea's strategic location provides a buffer between China and the South, which has a formidable military and is home to 29 thousand U.S. troops.
Moreover, China doesn't want to do anything that would result in the destabilization of the North Korean regime, the aftermath of which could send hundreds of thousands of North Korean refugees flooding into China. The collapse of the regime could, conceivably, lead to the reunification of the North and the South which, thereafter, could result in many more thousands of U.S. troops being deployed there.
Who knows how this very complex and very volatile situation will turn out; hopefully the world will not see this standoff erupt into a massive war in which Seoul will be virtually destroyed, along with the deaths of hundreds of thousands of citizens, including U.S. troops?
By far the most dangerous aspect in this situation involves the leaders of these two nations that are involved in this confrontation; Kim Jong-un of North Korea on the one hand and the U.S. president, Donald Trump on the other. Both of these individuals are known to have highly volatile tempers, together with great difficulty in controlling their emotions. Both have short fuses, the last thing that we need in such a crisis
The U.S. government and its military should think long and hard about what is currently happening in the Korean Peninsula. They should awaken to the fact that the massive power that has been created through the spending of trillions of dollars has its limitations; that in this Korean standoff the U.S. military almost has its hands tied because of this unique situation. Trump has stated that he wants to rebuild this military which he says has been sorely depleted. But what's the sense of spending billions upon billions more and add more ships, planes, submarines and other military weaponry?
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
3
1
1
