Tensions with North Korea escalated dramatically this week. President Trump threatened "fire and fury" against North Korea, while North Korea boasted of plans to splash missiles in the waters around Guam, a U.S. territory home to more than 162,000 people.
North Korea is back to being front page news this week. But, for once, it looks like it might be good news. I spoke with FCNL's Anthony Weir about the recent diplomatic breakthrough between North and South Korea, how the U.S. should respond, and what Congress can do.
Truth be told, the past few days have worried me too.
I had been encouraged this spring to see South Korea’s diplomacy open new possibilities. As someone who has focused a career on nuclear proliferation, I was happy to express my thanks and
praise when President Trump embraced direct engagement to deal with North Korea’s nuclear weapons.
Diplomacy with North Korea has produced the first specific, if limited, results—but the progress is fragile and slow. Harsh statements or miscalculations could lead to a devastating military conflict. We urge members of Congress to publicly support sustained, flexible, problem-solving engagement with North Korea that incrementally builds on smaller steps toward larger nonproliferation, security, and humanitarian breakthroughs.
FCNL joined over 40 other pro-diplomacy groups to call for sustained diplomatic engagement with North Korea to achieve progress on denuclearization, and improve humanitarian conditions in North Korea.
There's no way around it: War with North Korea would be catastrophic. With already-high tensions and President Trump's coming trip to South Korea and the region, we must act now to reduce the risk of war.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the constant stream of rapidly
changing news about North Korea. However, we’ve assembled these articles to offer you important context and perspectives on the current crisis, demonstrating the consequences for choosing war and the opportunities possible with diplomacy.
Important national security voices are echoing President Ronald Reagan's warnings about the perils of nuclear warfighting and urging the United States to exercise restraint in dealing with North Korea.
President Trump and other U.S. leaders seem almost eager for a war with North Korea, with their tough talk and tweeted taunts. South Korean efforts to pause both military exercises and North Korean provocations while building small pockets of trust around the Winter Olympics are the first encouraging signs in months.
We face the most urgent threat of nuclear war in a generation as tensions rise with North Korea -- and we're working relentlessly on Capitol Hill and around the country to advance a different approach to North Korea.
