Senior defense officials and administration officials are refuting NBC’s story that the U.S. will launch a preemptive strike on North Korea if it anticipates a sixth nuclear test.
“The U.S. is prepared to launch a preemptive strike with conventional weapons against North Korea should officials become convinced that North Korea is about to follow through with a nuclear weapons test,” NBC reported Thursday evening. The news outlet, citing multiple intelligence sources, claimed that the U.S. would use destroyers stationed nearby to launch the attack.
Citing multiple high-level sources, several journalists are saying that the report is “wildly wrong,” “crazy,” and “extremely dangerous.” VOA claims that the a “preemptive strike is NOT planned.”
Multiple sr defense officials say this report is “wildly wrong” “crazy.” Pentagon pushing back on NBC report, call it “extremely dangerous.” https://t.co/BLnoPHnhj9
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) April 13, 2017
My sources say a pre-emptive strike is NOT planned, contrary to what @NBCNews reporting, but retaliation likely if missile/nuke device test. https://t.co/ec4BaMC2Sa
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) April 13, 2017
VOA’s Steve Herman says that sources say “retaliation” is possible if North Korea pulls the trigger.
this is what my sources are saying too https://t.co/xkxrtYDTDJ
— Anna Fifield (@annafifield) April 14, 2017
Administration official calling NBC report re possible preemptive strike totally wrong https://t.co/unzqiJgGwp
— Justin Sink (@justinsink) April 13, 2017
Notably, NBC is talking to intelligence officials, while other reporters are citing defense and administration officials. It is unclear if NBC’s report is inaccurate or if the various departments have their wires crossed. Either way, a preemptive strike on North Korea is a huge risk, as war would likely follow any strike on the reclusive regime.
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