GUIDANCE

Preparing for What Comes Next in North Korea

Oct 31, 2017 | 09:00 GMT

The USS George Washington aircraft carrier ports in Busan, South Korea, in July 2014.

Recent developments suggest that the United States is bracing itself for a confrontation with North Korea.

(Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Highlights

  • By moving carrier strike groups and stealth fighter jets into the region, the United States will enhance its force posture in and around North Korea.
  • The preparations do not necessarily suggest that the United States is getting ready to launch a war — though they will elevate the risk in the region.
  • Tracking U.S. military movements around the Korean Peninsula will offer insight into the standoff between Washington and Pyongyang.

North Korea is still racing to achieve a comprehensive nuclear deterrent. And the closer it gets to its goal, the less time the United States and its allies have to try to stop it. Depending on factors such as the strength of U.S. intelligence, the progress of North Korea's missiles and nuclear programs and how much risk Washington and its allies are willing to tolerate, the United States may already have missed its opportunity for preventive military action. Official assessments indicate that, at most, Washington has 18 months before the window closes; after that, the United States and its allies probably will have no choice but to adopt a policy of deterrence toward North Korea. As the clock ticks down, we're constantly scanning the horizon for signs of an impending strike on North Korea, such as the evacuation of nonessential personnel from South Korea or a heightened alert level in the...

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