Trump: N. Korea nuclear issue will be taken care of

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new national security strategy (NSS), which specifies North Korea’s nuclear and biochemical weapons as an actual threat in 11 months since his inauguration. President Trump finished his strategic blueprint of his “America first” policies by indicating China as a “competitor” and including economic security in the NSS for the first time.

“America and its allies will take all necessary steps to achieve a denuclearization and ensure that this regime (N. Korea) cannot threaten the world,” said Mr. Trump as he announced his new NSS on Monday (local time) in Washington. “We pushed a campaign of maximum pressure on North Korea to produce the toughest ever sanctions against the regime but more work remains to be done”

The 68-page NSS report presented by the Trump administration on that day specifies North Korea as a “rogue regime,” referring to the word 17 times as to give weight to it. President trump reiterated by saying, “North Korea’s nuclear issue will be taken care of. We have no choice.”

The new NSS pursues to protect citizens and territory of the United States, not to mention achieving economic prosperity. It aims to accomplish “peace by power” and expand the influence of the United States. The new NSS expressed hostility towards China and Russia as “revisionist powers” that challenge the United States’ hegemony, and North Korea and Iran as “threats.”

Yong Park parky@donga.com