20 August, 2017
President Donald Trump says in a tweet that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "made a very wise and reasonable decision" amid indications his country has decided not to proceed with its multiple missile launch toward Guam.
The top US military officer said Monday that the United States wants to peacefully resolve a deepening standoff with North Korea but is also ready to use the "full range" of its military capabilities in case of provocation.
The intense rhetoric on both sides has raised fears of a miscalculation leading to catastrophic consequences - Pyongyang has vast artillery forces deployed within range of Seoul, where millions of people live. "The government will risk everything to prevent war".
"It's only [South Korea] that can decide on military action on the Korean peninsula", Moon said in a televised speech marking National Liberation Day, which celebrates the end of Japan's colonial rule when World War II ended.
His comments Thursday at a nationally televised news conference appeared to be another effort to jumpstart a diplomatic solution to a confrontation sparked North Korea's warning that it might send missiles into waters near the US territory of Guam, and President Donald Trump's belligerent Twitter threats to unleash "fire and fury" on the North.
His remarks came amid escalating tensions between Washington and Pyongyang since North Korea test-launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July.
Officials in China, South Korea, Japan and Russian Federation - the countries most directly at risk if a major war breaks out with North Korea - all appealed for calm and a return to diplomacy.
"The government, putting everything on the line, will block war by all means", Moon said. "We can't lose everything with another war".
The White House scored a diplomatic victory August 5 when the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to impose new sanctions on North Korea in response to its latest ballistic missile tests.
Beijing has grown increasingly exasperated with its wayward neighbour, but fears instability and the prospect of U.S. troops on its border in a united Korea.
But since coming to power his gestures have been rebuffed by Pyongyang, and he played down the urgency of dialogue.
"The south authorities' utterances about improving intra-Korean ties turned out to be nothing but hypocrisy", it said. "There must be a guarantee that it will lead to a fruitful outcome".
The Associated Press reported last week that a US envoy and his North Korean counterpart have discussed three other Americans being held in North Korea.
"A resolution of the North Korea nuclear issue by military force is completely unacceptable and the peninsula's nuclear issue must be peacefully resolved by political and diplomatic methods", Lavrov was quoted as saying. Moon urged North Korea not to make further provocations, saying it would face much tougher sanctions that the impoverished country would be unable to withstand if it persists with its nuclear weapons development. "I would tell you that we would be favorably inclined to do anything which furthers the defense capabilities of South Korea and we certainly have seen our alliance change and adapt over time before", Pentagon spokesperson Davis told reporters.
Some estimates of the radar's range place much of mainland China within the US' sights, meaning that one day the USA could possibly integrate THAAD into a larger missile defence system that would neuter China's ability to launch nuclear missiles without warning, thereby eroding its nuclear deterrent and national power.
