A television screen shows North Korea's threats to strike Guam with ballistic missiles. Photo / AP
By News Corp Australia Network writers
Kim Jong-un may have hidden a secret message to the United States in his blustering boast that he is now ready to lob missiles at Guam. But can President Trump understand it?
This morning North Korean media stated Kim had been briefed by his Missile Command on completed plans to test launch missiles and "bracket" the US Pacific territory of Guam.
But Kim stated he would watch the "foolish and stupid conduct of the Yankees" a little more before deciding whether to give an order for the missile test.
The US has stated any missiles lobbed toward Guam would be seen as a deeply provocative act.
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis this morning said the United Sates would "take out" any such missile and declared such a launch could lead to war.
Kim's comments, however, come with an almost hidden tone of moderation.
He appears to hold out the offer to defuse the growing crisis - if the United States made a conciliatory gesture.
"The US Imperialists caught the noose around their necks due to their reckless military confrontation racket ... (but) he would watch a little more the foolish and stupid conduct of the Yankees spending a hard time of every minute of their miserable lot," the Pyongyang statement reads.
Dr Genevieve Hohnen, Lecturer in Politics at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia, says this quote holds a clear - if buried - olive branch.
It appears to signal a path to defuse the crisis by saying Kim would watch any US behaviour before giving the order to fire.
"We know what to expect from Kim. This isn't the kind of statement that would be interpreted as aggressive - despite all the aggressive rhetoric. The fact Kim Jong-un says he will respond only if the US does not de-escalate the situation is significant."
But the question is whether or not everybody who needs to understand that, understands that.
"The problem is that Kim Jon-un is largely the same personality type as Trump - both are paranoid, narcissistic and have huge egos," Dr Hohnen said. "We've never really had leaders like that on both sides before.
"The unknown factor in this is not Kim, it's Trump. Kim Jong-un is acting as we expect him to behave."
"We've actually been expecting something like this," she said. "Today's quite an important day in North Korea (celebrations marking the liberation of Korea at the end of World War II) . The North Koreans usually do something in terms of military development to coincide with such events."
Officials told US media that spy satellites have observed DPRK mobile missile launcher movement, indicating a intermediate-ballistic missile launch may be being prepared.
Sr defense official: US satellites observe North Korea mobile missile launcher movement, intermediate ballistic missile launch prep possible
— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) August 14, 2017
The report comes as US Secretary of Defence James Mattis warns any further escalation could rapidly lead to war: "Yes that means for a lot of young troops they're going to be in a wartime situation".
Such intermediate missiles do not have the capacity to reach the mainland United States, but can reach the US military bases in Guam and Japan.
The missile being prepared may be a Hwasong HS-12, capable of reaching Guam.
The DPRK has this morning issued a press statement saying it has presented plans to "envelope" Guam in fire to President Kim Jong-un.
"The nuclear force of the DPRK is strong in its guts and no one can guess its muscle as the flight trajectory of medium-to-long ballistic rocket Hwasong-12, firing data and the correct hitting-point are made public at home and abroad."
War on Korean peninsula “can only be nuclear”: North Korean media https://t.co/cURDTtDgOo pic.twitter.com/fh3mGPh4Ba
— NK NEWS (@nknewsorg) August 14, 2017
Pyongyang's state media has this morning reported President Kim Jong-un as having "praised" his Strategic Force for drawing up a "careful" plan for a "power demonstration" to "envelope" Guam in fire.
"The nuclear force of the DPRK is strong in its guts and no one can guess its muscle as the flight trajectory of medium-to-long ballistic rocket Hwasong-12, firing data and the correct hitting-point are made public at home and abroad."
Kim said he would "watch a little more" Washington's behaviour, but will make an "important" decision if the US continues its "extremely dangerous reckless actions".
First draft of map correction will do more later once more clear images released. #DPRK pic.twitter.com/gxImnfx0zC
— Nathan J Hunt (@ISNJH) August 14, 2017
"The US Imperialists caught the noose around their necks due to their reckless military confrontation racket ... (but) he would watch a little more the foolish and stupid conduct of the Yankees spending a hard time of every minute of their miserable lot," the report says.
"If the planned fire of our demonstration is carried out as the US is going more reckless, it will be the most delightful historic moment when the Hwasong artillerymen will wring the windpipes of the Yankees and point daggers at their necks."
Mattis told reporters in Washington this morning the situation could escalate to war "very quickly".
He said it could be assessed "within moments" if a missile fired from North Korea was on track to hit Guam.
The United States would "take out" any seen to be heading for American soil.
If missiles were fired at US bases: "I think if they fire at the US it could escalate to war very quickly ... Yes, that's called war, if they shoot at us."
He added: "If they shoot at the United States, I'm assuming they hit the United States. If they do that, it's game on."
This is a very important photo. It shows Anderson AFB in #Guam as clear as day on the back wall. pic.twitter.com/rQhicoGSRM
— Sentinel (@StratSentinel) August 14, 2017
North Korea has previously stated its plan is to fire missiles to land in the ocean "near" Guam, not at Guam itself. The US has stated this would be an unacceptable provocation.
Mattis was asked what response the US would give to such a "near miss": "You can't make all those kinds of decision in advance," he said. "There's a host of things going on. There's allies that we consult with ... "I need a certain amount of ambiguity on this".
Mattis' comments came after he and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson wrote in an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal that America has "no interest" in regime change in Pyongyang or the accelerated reunification of the two Koreas, and stressed the importance of a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
Today is a public holiday in North Korea (Liberation of the Fatherland Day - marking the end of World War II). Previous missile launches have been timed to coincide with such calendar events to maximise internal propaganda impact.
This morning's DPRK statement also attacked planned US-South Korea "Freedom Guardian" military drills scheduled for August 21.
"No matter what rhetoric they let out about "annual, regular and defensive drills", they cannot cover up the danger of a war outbreak," the statement says.
"If any accidental case would be sparked, though unwanted, it would never avert a war. What matters is that when a second Korean War breaks out, it would be a nuclear war."
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