While Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is warning North Korea about possible military action in response to its nuclear threat, top military commanders are cautioning that war on the Korean peninsula would be a “bloodbath,” a senior official tells the Washington Examiner.
Publicly, the Pentagon says its role is to provide military options to support the policies of the new administration. But so far there have been no discussions that contemplate any preemptive attack on the North, the official said.
“In the military we are obsessive planners,” said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, “and there is always a process to review and update and modernize and make as possible every plane we have.”
Pentagon planners predict any offensive military action would likely lead to all out-war between the North and the South, with projected deaths of more than 1 million people.
The U.S., which has 28,500 troops permanently stationed in South Korea, is bound by treaty to defend the South against any aggression by the North.
“It would be a bloodbath,” said the official, speaking on background and repeating for emphasis. “Blood. Bath. And everyone in this building feels that way from the chairman on down,” he added, referring to Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford, who is the senior military adviser to the president and to the defense secretary.
The U.S. has a four-star commander, Army Gen. Vincent Brooks, who is in charge of the joint American and South Korean military forces, and there are standing plans for the defense of South Korea in the event of war.
The overall plan, known as Operations Plan 5027, is constantly revised and refined based on the perceived threat from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
It calls for a rapid buildup of U.S. land, naval and air forces to defend the South, and to reverse any North Korean advances.
One problem is the proximity of South Korea’s capital to the demilitarized zone that has served as a border between the two Koreas, since the Korean War ended in 1953 with a temporary armistice, not a formal peace treaty.
Over the decades, North Korea has amassed thousands of conventional artillery pieces that are capable of destroying Seoul, which lies just 30 miles to the south and has a population of 20 million people.
In South Korea, Tillerson said the Obama administration policy of “strategic patience,” is over and it’s time for a new approach, including possible military action.
“Certainly, we do not want for things to get to a military conflict,” Tillerson said at a news conference with his South Korean counterpart.
“But obviously, if North Korea takes actions that threatens the South Korean forces or our own forces, then that would be met with an appropriate response,” Tillerson said. “If they elevate the threat of their weapons program to a level that we believe requires action, that option is on the table.”
Asked if that was also the policy of the Pentagon, spokesman Davis said, “I’ll let Secretary Tillerson speak for U.S. policy. Our job is to be able to provide military options so it gives strength to the foreign policy that he leads.”
