The Kim Family Regime is executing a plan. Our rhetoric does not feed their belligerence. They are not going to "back down" because we tone down our rhetoric. That said, we do not need to say a lot and we do not need to get into a war of words. But we have to demonstrate sustained strength and resolve. As long as the Alliance remains strong then the north will be deterred from an attack (a large scale military attack but not a provocation - if they are planning a provocation they are going to execute one). The real danger is when the north perceives a gap or weakness, particularly in the Alliance. But the bottom line is that we are not provoking the north with our words and our actions, but our sustained actions will have an effect on the regime's decision making over time when they learn that we will not back down as we have so many times in the last 60 years. It is counterintuitive to most but the only chance we have of breaking the cycle of provocations is to not give in. We can (and should and I expect we will) try diplomacy again in the future but our future diplomatic actions will be enhanced and be more effective if they rest on a foundation of strength and resolve with the military instrument of power. We have to remain consistent and cannot appear to blink. Again future diplomacy will be better if we remain strong now.
V/R
Dave
U.S. reducing rhetoric that feeds North Korean belligerence
By Barbara Starr and Tom Cohen, CNN
updated 10:37 AM EDT, Fri April 5, 2013
U.S. ready to calm North Korea tensions
Washington (CNN) -- Recent announcements of American military deployments in response to belligerent statements by North Korea may have contributed to escalating tensions between the two countries, Pentagon officials told CNN on Thursday in explaining an effort to reduce U.S. rhetoric about the reclusive state.
"We accused the North Koreans of amping things up, now we are worried we did the same thing," one Defense Department official said.
They spoke on the same day a U.S. official first told CNN that communications intercepts indicated North Korea may be planning to launch a mobile ballistic missile in the coming days or weeks.
Classified images and communications intercepts show that North Korea has moved up to two mobile missiles, launchers and fuel tanks to its East coast, another American official with knowledge of the matter told CNN.
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin told a parliamentary committee in Seoul that the activity signaled an imminent test firing or military drill, according to the semi-official South Korean news agency Yonhap.
One U.S. official said it is believed any launch this time would be a test.
The activity is consistent with a Musudan missile, theofficial said.
The Musudan is based on a Soviet-era system and has a 2,500-mile (4,000-kilometer) range that can threaten South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia, but not U.S. forces based on Guam.
As a vital ally to South Korea since the Korean war in the 1950s, the United States has pledged military backing to Seoul in the event of an attack by North Korea.
In addition, North Korea has been developing nuclear weapons technology, raising concerns of rapid proliferation in the region and even a possible nuclear strike by Pyongyang.
The fraught situation on the Korean Peninsula stems from the North's latest long-range rocket launch in December and underground nuclear test in February.
In response, the United States helped bring tougher U.N. sanctions on North Korea and took part in joint military exercises with South Korea, prompting Kim Jong Un's government to ratchet up its threats in recent weeks.
That caused the United States to display its military strength in the annual drills taking place now, flying B-2 stealth bombers capable of carrying conventional or nuclear weapons, as well as Cold War-era B-52s and F-22 Raptor stealth fighters over South Korea.
On Thursday, a North Korean army official warned that "the moment of explosion is approaching fast."
(Continued at the link below)
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