No fire or fury, but muted Trump response to N Korean missile launch

"All options are on the table."

So... Surrender is on the table? Silly, dangerous man.

The best policy the US can take towards NK is to ignore the boy dictator. Yes, they have a large army poised to attack SK, but we have had protections in place for over a half-century to hold them in check. Kim knows exactly what will happen if he attempts a launch against the US. The fact that it's now the end of August and he didn't launch missiles at Guam suggests someone's getting through to him. Kim continues to play the media like a fiddle, and the media continues to gobble it up and give Kim all the press he yearns for. Why keep playing the game?

"All options are on the table."

So... war is on the table? Silly, dangerous man.

@Bintaro - precisely. Quite the opposite of the "speak softly and carry a big stick" mentality that would be much more appropriate here.

Basically, Trump showed that he is not as "tough" as he tried to appear, and he is just doing what every other leaders did until now. Because he can't do anything else.

It's the smallest dogs that bark the most. Trump barked, and Kim just showed he was not intimidated.

Trump is impotent and has no power to control North Korea. And they just proved his tough talk is all hot air.

Personally I'm outraged because he effectively encouraged DPRK to make this launch that threatens people in the country I lived without doing anything about it, instead devoting his time to pardoning lawless bigots and harassing patriotic transgender citizens.

But you right wingers should be equally outraged because Trump just proved the US is all talk. He's hurting all of us equally, at least so long as we aren't in the top 1% of earners.

"Japan's and the U.S. positions are totally at one," Abe added in a statement, saying Trump expressed his "strong commitment" to defend Japan.

The position being 'do nothing'. 

I think the best thing would be to put more pressure on Russia and China regarding economic sanctions.  Bold statements have been very negative, a bully doesn't respond well to threats, as common sense would tell most people.  Hit NK where it hurts with stricter import restrictions.

Trump, and Abe, need to stop talking and start acting!

i probably think trump said just "attack, fire the mother", but the generals said "um sir, we need to go to the bathroom".

A senior U.S. official said the restrained nature of the administration's recent responses was intentional, reflecting an effort by new White House chief of staff John Kelly to prevent a repeat of the rhetorical escalation that occurred earlier this month.

Good.

So he is now doing what most of you said he should do the first time but unsurprisingly some of you still unhappy with his response.

This time.......huh.... Trump is going to play a 'Real show'!!

but unsurprisingly some of you still unhappy with his response.

And unsurprisingly you still Donny done good. Remember when you claimed that the NK silence/inaction was proof that Trump's "tough" words were effective? Now what? Clearly that wasn't right.

The best policy the US can take towards NK is to ignore the boy dictator.

What?

Yes, they have a large army poised to attack SK, but we have had protections in place for over a half-century to hold them in check.

But we didn't have lil' Kim in power at that time.

Kim knows exactly what will happen if he attempts a launch against the US.

For some odd reason, I doubt it.

The fact that it's now the end of August and he didn't launch missiles at Guam suggests someone's getting through to him. Kim continues to play the media like a fiddle, and the media continues to gobble it up and give Kim all the press he yearns for. Why keep playing the game?

Because sooner or later he could hit something or someone and that could trigger a chain reaction....

But we can suggest and come up with many ideas as to how the WH should handle NK, but the generals they know the best approach.

Trump and his advisors knew the NK missile trajectory was not a direct threat to Japan or Guam, nor did it land on populated soil.

No need to knee-jerk react and fire the Patriot and/or THAAD defense missiles, no need to launch offensive missiles and bombers.....yet. He acted with restraint as was appropriate under this particular circumstance......and you all are lambasting him.

"....The administration's more cautious approach in recent days reflects an effort to preserve modest signs of progress with North Korea that had led Trump and his top diplomat to hint at the possibility of direct talks..."

We can see NK's nuclear tests and missile test threat blackmails are working: To convince the U.S. to go to Pyongyang and talk directly with Kim. This is the wrong time, under the wrong circumstances and presents the wrong picture to the world, especially to China and Russia, i..e, the U.S. caved in under threats and blackmail.

I hope Trump has a better trump card in place.

@Bass

Didn't you tell us the other day that North Korea has become more 'apprehensive' since Trump talked tough?

Is tough talk bad now?

Jimizo: "Didn't you tell us the other day that North Korea has become more 'apprehensive' since Trump talked tough?"

He did, indeed, as he also did with Syria, before Trump backtracked after and said Assad could remain in power, and just after saying he could as well and before firing the tomohawks. And don't forget, these 180s upon 180s upon 180s are also after they were hysterical about Hillary starting war (but it being okay if Trump does). You can only go 180 twice before you've gone full cirlce, and bass and co have done more loops than a dog chasing its tail for a few hours.

But as I said to clamenza yesterday on a similar thread, it's always been diplomacy that other nations need in dealing with NK. The tough talk has done nothing but made everyone else look like fools as NK does what thye want anyway and thumbs their faces at the treats and sanctions, and the other nations have to come to the table anyway.

We can see NK's nuclear tests and missile test threat blackmails are working: To convince the U.S. to go to Pyongyang and talk directly with Kim.

It's not blackmail. It's a pattern that has been part of their peculiar international relations for several decades now.

It's outrageous, of course but nobody loses with dialogue. Everyone loses if it's war.

Trump is neither loved nor feared,

What a jackass.

Trump is neither loved nor feared

Nor respected. It's quite a feat.

Didn't you tell us the other day that North Korea has become more 'apprehensive' since Trump talked tough? 

Is tough talk bad now?

No, he should talk tough as for what military action to take, that's the generals department and since the missile didn't hit anything of significance, he doesn't really need to say anything at this point and time.

Nor respected. It's quite a feat.

That depends, there are many that do.

Trump is neither loved nor feared,

For some people, like him or hate him, at least our adversaries don't think he's a punk like....

at least our adversaries don't think he's a punk like....

...lil' Kim? Duterte? Mugabe?

Glad to see you setting your sights high, bass.

Our prez may be rubbish, but he's not quite as bad as the worst scum you can find.

Glad to see you setting your sights high, bass.

No need for a pat.

Our prez may be rubbish, but he's not quite as bad as the worst scum you can find.

Rubbish, our prez? Naw!

As long as we are talking about scum, the first thing that comes to my mind would be the looney left and the spineless right.

Is tough talk bad now?

No, he should talk tough

But you said Trump's tough talk made Kim more apprehensive. Kim then fired a missile over northern Japan.

It clearly didn't make him apprehensive in the slightest.

What's the point of the tough talk? What does it achieve?

But you said Trump's tough talk made Kim more apprehensive. Kim then fired a missile over northern Japan. 

Probably, that's a good thing. And remember, Kim is under pressure to show that he can stand up to the US, his political survival hangs on that. Not having served in the military, bypassing a lot of people with experience, he doesn't want to get whacked.

What's the point of the tough talk? What does it achieve?

Putting him on notice. This president is not going to make a thin and weak red line statement and not act on it.

What's the point of the tough talk?

The north korean regime has been telling its people for years that the US are preparing to invade them.

Tough talk gives them free propaganda material.

Trump is weak. The US is in political turmoil. Everyone foreign enemy from Putin to the Mullahs are seeing how far they can push but Fatty is testing the provocations to the max.

If the world would rather not accept the frightening human toll that the military solution basically guarantees, then the world should shut out wherever possible this crazy regime. Keep the military option on standby, this problem isn't going away.

bass4funk: "This president is not going to make a thin and weak red line statement and not act on it."

He's just going to make "fire and fury" hot air comments and then not act on them. :) Well done, again, on setting your sights high, bass. Not only did Trump's bombast now put NK above the US in the war on words, he's not only going to NOT follow through on his threats after the "I'd love to meet the gentleman" comments, but he's going to have to give in and talk. Hence, the "all options on the table" where it was only threats before. Doh! But of course, when you can't retort you talk about a "loony left" again. Touched a nerve, I guess.

BlacklabelToday  10:33 am JST

So he is now doing what most of you said he should do the first time but unsurprisingly some of you still unhappy with his response.

I am quite sure not a single person here has called upon Trump to do nothing in response to North Korea but harass patriotic transgender soldiers and pardon lawless bigots. Perhaps you're mis-remembering a dream?

So far NONE of the NK missiles have actually hit land or populated cities. Trump has actually acted very restraint and responsible in not reacting in a knee-jerking manner (like many here have recommended).

But if it those missiles ever do hit land, especially near populated centers, then I'm sure Trump would follow through actual "fire and fury" action. You don't play your Trump card at the signs of rhetorical fear-provoking bluffs, which is what Kim is doing. We'll see what cards he plays next.

At least we can be thankful that the shrill anti-trump at every turn posters on this site arent managing the negotiations.

Its called diplomacy, folks. And yes, its certainly unorthodox because of the bizarre nature of N Korea's style of negotiating.

The latest missile launch isnt a slap at trump - indeed as a poster commented, Kim has to play to his public.

You lefties simplistic non-grasp of nuance and strategy is mind boggling.

He's just going to make "fire and fury" hot air comments and then not act on them. :)

Can you prove that? Had No idea you were in the meeting with him and his generals.

Well done, again, on setting your sights high, bass. Not only did Trump's bombast now put NK above the US in the war on words, he's not only going to NOT follow through on his threats after the "I'd love to meet the gentleman" comments, but he's going to have to give in and talk.

That's a great thing, so that equates to a win, the previous president got laughed out of the room. Remember Crimea?

Hence, the "all options on the table" where it was only threats before. Doh! But of course, when you can't retort you talk about a "loony left" again. Touched a nerve, I guess.

Yes, all options. That also includes: Negotiations, talks and Nuking the country. Nice try, but if you want to talk over nuking the country that would be the best option, but if one of those missiles hits, Kim at least can look back on a glorious life he led.

but if you want to talk over nuking the country that would be the best option, but if one of those missiles hits, Kim at least can look back on a glorious life he led.

Which country? Best option for who?