After North Korea's latest nuclear test, the question is whether war is unavoidable

Nikki Haley says North Korea is "begging for war," while Japan mulls evacuating South Korean-based nationals

Published September 5, 2017 7:37AM (EDT)

 (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

In response to North Korea's sixth nuclear test, nations around the world are prepping for possible war. At a United Nation's Security Council meeting Monday, U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley said that the latest provocations shows that North Korea is "begging for war."

"His abusive use of missiles and his nuclear threats shows that he is begging for war," Haley said.

"Enough is enough," she added. "We have taken an incremental approach, and despite the best of intentions, it has not worked."

China and Russia have encouraged the U.S. to take a "suspension for suspension" approach, according to The Los Angeles Times, which would have the U.S. and South Korea cut back its military exercise in the region in exchange for North Korea freezing its weapons program.

Haley indicated on Monday that the U.S. would not accept that strategy.

"When a rogue regime has a nuclear weapon and an ICBM pointed at you, you do not take steps to lower your guard. No one would do that. We certainly won’t," she said.

Meanwhile, in Japan, officials are taking steps to prepare for a mass evacuation of 60,000 Japanese nationals based in South Korea, Nikkei's Asian Review reported.

"There is a possibility of further provocations," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at a Monday meeting with lawmakers. "We need to remain extremely vigilant and do everything we can to ensure the safety of our people."

"If the U.S. decided on a military strike against the North, the Japanese government would start moving toward an evacuation on its own accord regardless of whether the American plans are public," a Japanese government source told Asian Review.

In addition to a possible military response, the U.S. has proposed issuing sanctions on countries that do business with North Korea.

"The United States will look at every country that does business with North Korea as a country that is giving aid to their reckless and dangerous nuclear intentions," Haley said.


By Taylor Link

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Donald Trump Japan Military Nikki Haley North Korea Nuclear Tests South Korea Weapons