USA - North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, has urged Washington to make the “right choice” and avert any confrontation after he was briefed on the plans of an “enveloping” strike on the US territory of Guam. The Pentagon meanwhile warned that any strike against the US could “very quickly” escalate into war. North Korean General Kim Rak-gyom briefed Kim on the Strategic Force’s plan for an “enveloping fire at Guam at the command post.”
After studying the plan “for a long time” and having “discussed it” with commanding officers, the North Korean leader ordered the army to be fire-ready should he and the ruling party make the decision to further demonstrate his country’s military power. “If they fire at the United States, it could escalate into a war very quickly,” Defense Secretary James Mattis told reporters. He added, however, that if the projectile does not pose any immediate threat it would be up to politicians to decide what to do next.
“War is up to the president, and perhaps up to Congress,” Mattis said. “The bottom line is we will defend the country from attack.” Stressing that US military would know the trajectory of a missile “within moments,” Mattis promised take out any missile that is headed towards Guam. On Monday, the Pentagon made clear that a Pyongyang missile fired at the US would be considered a declaration of war.