Turns out, tough talk for an unhinged dictator actually works.
After multiple warnings from President Trump and Defense Secretary James Mattis, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un tucked his tail between his legs and backed off threats to launch a military strike on the U.S. island territory of Guam.
Trump was pilloried for issuing his own fiery rhetoric against Kim Jong-un, telling Pyongyang that should the United States be attacked we would be forced to unleash ‘fire and fury.’
He followed that up by letting North Korea know that the American military was “locked and loaded,” ready for any action the rogue nation might take.
Military solutions are now fully in place,locked and loaded,should North Korea act unwisely. Hopefully Kim Jong Un will find another path!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 11, 2017
More recently, Mattis warned that the firing of missiles towards any U.S. territory would amount to “game on.”
“It could escalate into war very quickly — yes, that’s called war,” Mattis told reporters.
Sec. Mattis: If North Korea fires missile at US, it’s ‘game on’ https://t.co/CfPL9u2I2G
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) August 15, 2017
Kim Jong-un, as most of America’s enemies do, reacted to Mattis’s comments by slithering away but warning he’d be back.
Via Fox News:
Kim Jong Un appeared to blink first, with North Korean media reporting Tuesday the dictator had delayed a decision about whether to fire missiles toward Guam – a pronouncement that came hours after a particularly stark warning from Defense Secretary James Mattis promised further escalation would mean “game on.”
Kim Jong Un’s remarks came as he made his first public appearance in nearly two weeks, inspecting his army and examining missile plans, the official state media arm, KCNA, reported, according to Reuters. But the leader also tempered his recent fiery rhetoric, appearing to step back from the brink in an intensifying war of words between United States and North Korean leaders.
In retreating, Kim Jong-un followed up his statements by vowing “that if the Yankees persist in their extremely dangerous reckless actions on the Korean peninsula and in its vicinity … the latter will make an important decision as it already declared.”
Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio of Guam said, “We are happy that the rhetoric has calmed down, that he won’t be pursuing his threats to fire missiles at Guam.”
We have the Trump Administration to thank for that.
Is this a major diplomatic and military victory for Trump? Share your thoughts below!