U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis backed off military action against North Korea on Wednesday ahead of the opening session of the Winter Olympics just across the border in Pyeongchang.
‘This is firmly in the diplomatic lane,’ he said from the White House podium.
Vice President Mike Pence is representing the United States in South Korea this week. He and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have each signaled their openness to talks with representatives of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un while Pence is on the continent.
U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis backed off military action against North Korea on Wednesday ahead of the opening session of the Winter Olympics just across the border in Pyeongchang
Vice President Mike Pence is representing the United States in South Korea this week(left). He’s seen here in Tokyo, Japan – a stopover during his trip – on Wednesday. Pence and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson – seen Tuesday in Columbia – have each signaled their openness to talks with representatives of North Korea while the VP is on the continent
President Donald Trump said Friday that he believes it’s a ‘good thing, not a bad thing’ that the Olympic games put the Korean nations back on speaking terms, ‘And after that, who knows.’
You know, we ran out of road — you know the expression. The road really ended. They could’ve done it 12 years ago. They could have done it 20 years ago. They could’ve done it four years ago and two years ago. We have no road left.
Mattis said Wednesday that Pence is ‘quite capable of making the call’ on talks while he’s in Korea during the White House’s daily press briefing.
‘As far as the situation with Korea, it is firmly in the diplomatic lane. We have seen much stronger diplomatic action,’ the Pentagon chief said.
The United States’ top military general pointed to three unanimous United Nations Security Council resolutions punishing North Korea for its illicit development of nuclear weapons.
‘How often do you see France and Russia…China and the United States, Great Britain all voting — and other countries — all voting unanimously?’ Mattis stated. ‘I think that makes it very clear this is firmly in the diplomatic lane.’
He was quick to add that the Pentagon was ‘of course’ backing up Tillerson’s ‘foreign policy efforts, as guided by the president, with viable military options.’