North Korean Threats Warrant Response

North Korea's bellicose rhetoric warrants a response. With tensions as high as they are, the traditional avenues of sending in the 101st Airborne or deploying an aircraft carrier to the region would only heighten tensions further. Military action of any type is the wrong way to go, but the severity of Kim Jung Un's statements require that the United States make a firm, but reasonable reply.

The United States could establish a Radio Free Korea in Seoul. This would broadcast actual news - not the fiction broadcast by North Korean media - to the North Korean people. Although this broadcast could be conducted by shortwave, there is probably no one in North Korea who has a shortwave receiver therefore Radio Free Korea would need to broadcast over existing channels, perhaps even overriding existing North Korean broadcasts.

In addition, I would create a TV station, based aboard a U.S. Navy ship. This would be positioned in international waters off the coast of North Korea and broadcast into North Korea, most likely also overriding existing North Korean TV.

Next, I would let the North Korean people know, perhaps through the above two media, that any North Korean citizen escaping the country into China, may ask for asylum in the United States and be granted asylum. They would be provided food, medical care, clothes, a home and education up to and including any college or university in the United States.

Finally, I would inform the North Korean leadership that their bellicose rhetoric is taken seriously, and that, as a result, the United States and its allies are considering extending NATO to include South Korea.

Prior to the implementation of these measures, I would send a message to the North Korean leadership that the United States will implement the first three of these measures unless an immediate toning down and cessation of North Korea's scaremongering is undertaken. Failing that, these first three measures will be implemented within 90 days. If North Korea should continue its dangerous war threats beyond this period, the inclusion of South Korea to the NATO alliance will be brought before the NATO members. All of this must be made clear to North Korea in order that they may make a reasoned reply by curtailing their saber rattling.

In no way would I escalate tensions in a military dimension at this time, except for certain naval assets and Patriot missile batteries. Planned redeployments of naval assets to the Western Pacific would continue as planned while ships and aircraft capable of spotting and shooting down a North Korean missile barrage, as well as Patriot missile batteries, would be positioned in and about South Korea.

I believe this is a fair but firm, and measured response to the North Korean threats and that this response sends the message to North Korea that the United States takes these threats seriously, will respond appropriately and has the means and the will to defend the people of the United States as well as friends and allies.