NSC mulls "options" of placing nukes in S Korea, assassinating Kim Jong Un, etc.

[Tanuki]

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-s-options-north-korea-include-placing-nukes-south-korea-n743571

The National Security Council has presented President Donald Trump with options to respond to North Korea's nuclear program — including putting American nukes in South Korea or killing dictator Kim Jong-un, multiple top-ranking intelligence and military officials told NBC News.

Both scenarios are part of an accelerated review of North Korea policy prepared in advance of Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week.

The White House hopes the Chinese will do more to influence Pyongyang through diplomacy and enhanced sanctions. But if that fails, and North Korea continues its development of nuclear weapons, there are other options on the table that would significantly alter U.S. policy.
.......
The first and most controversial course of action under consideration is placing U.S. nuclear weapons in South Korea. The U.S. withdrew all nuclear weapons from South Korea 25 years ago. Bringing back bombs — likely to Osan Air Base, less than 50 miles south of the capital of Seoul — would mark the first overseas nuclear deployment since the end of the Cold War, an unquestionably provocative move.

"We have 20 years of diplomacy and sanctions under our belt that has failed to stop the North Korean program," one senior intelligence official involved in the review told NBC News. "I'm not advocating pre-emptive war, nor do I think that the deployment of nuclear weapons buys more for us than it costs," but he stressed that the U.S. was dealing with a "war today" situation. He doubted that Chinese and American interests coincided closely enough to find a diplomatic solution.

.......

Another option is to target and kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and other senior leaders in charge of the country's missiles and nuclear weapons and decision-making. Adopting such an objective has huge downsides, said Lippert, who also served as an assistant defense secretary under President Barack Obama.".....

[still_one]

1. WTF would "multiple top-ranking intelligence and military officials" tell the media this for?

[Tanuki]

5. A couple of possibilities occur to me:

1) They think these options are insane and want to nip them in the bud.

2) They wanted to put pressure on the Chinese to be part of a rational solution.

[still_one]

6. To me it is a stupid idea to publically threaten an unstable government.

[Tanuki]

7. One out of control megalomaniac to another

[still_one]

8. LOL. Also, well stated Tanuki

[workinclasszero]

14. Because we have an ignorant madman in charge

with his fat greasy finger on the end the world button?

[dchill]

2. Rule number One: Don't talk about Fight Club!

[LisaM]

3. Huh?

Okay, aggression in the Middle East, now Korea, then what? Africa?

[maryellen99]

9. Probably Russia invading the Baltics and E Europe

While trump looks the other way.

[longship]

4. I wonder what Xi says about that!

[ProudLib72]

10. Laughing most likely

He already said that the Syria strike was useless and made by a weak president flexing his muscles.

This is NOT the way to get China to exert influence on NK. In fact, it's the exact opposite of what needs to happen. Li'l Donnie is basically giving Xi an ultimatum and simultaneously double dog daring Kin Jong Un to use his nukes.

[maryellen99]

11. I don't think trump gives a s**t

Trump is going to use nukes and consequences be damned.

[JHan]

12. Yep...

The timing of this leak eh

[Tommy_Carcetti]

13. They could just send in Seth Rogan and James Franco. Nt