Stark unvarnished failure by us and the rest of Asia. Many Presidents. Many Secretaries Of State. We did the negotiations, the sanctions, more negotiations. What do we have? A nuclear armed North Korea. Now the US wants to move in an advanced anti ballistic missile defense system that works very well and has immensely powerful radars. THAAD.

The Chinese are objecting strongly. This system reduces their ability to attack our blue water fleets or Asian bases. But they are more prepared to pressure the South Koreans with epic amounts of money rather than convince NK to abandon nuclear weapons. Chutzpah, China Haz It.

Chinese ICBM thought to be upgrading to anti ship capability

In a rare interview, the senior official told us North Korea has nuclear weapons and is ready to use them. “We are prepared,” he said. “That is why I say if a sparkle of a fire is made on the Korean peninsula, it will lead to a nuclear war.

“We don’t say empty words. We mean what we mean. It is not the United States that has a monopoly on nuclear weapons strikes.” “So can I just be clear: you are telling me that the North Korea has the ability now to fire a nuclear missile?” I clarified.

“Any time, any time, yes.”

More: North Korea ‘Prepared’ to Fire Nuclear Missile

Last question. Will policies of containment truly trump the wisdom and necessity of actionable nuclear non proliferation agreements?