From: slider@nanashram.com

British government warned ‘new Korean War is now a real possibility’ because Donald Trump is so 'volatile and impulsive'

'The die would be cast on Day One. Whitehall needs to be preparing now for
a range of possible scenarios that could unfold in the coming months.'

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/british-government-warned-new-korean-war-real-possibility-trump-volatile-impulsive-north-korea-a7895226.html

A “new Korean War is now a real possibility,” partly because Donald Trump “is so volatile and impulsive”, a leading think tank has warned the
British government.

Civil servants were urged by Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director General at
the Royal United Services Institute, to begin preparations immediately for
the possible outbreak of war between the US and North Korea.

Tensions between the two countries have been steadily increasing in recent months, with Mr Trump most recently saying the US was “locked and loaded” in the face of North Korean missile threats against Guam.

As a close ally of the US, the UK would most likely be asked to provide assistance in the event of a conflict on the Korean peninsula, where the
US has around 35,000 troops stationed.

Mr Chalmers’ warning comes as many experienced civil servants have been seconded to Brexit duties, leaving a dearth of knowledge in other
departments.

It is feared this could weaken the government’s diplomatic response to a major crisis.

A “dangerous mix” is being created on the Korean peninsula by the North’s technical advances – an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was recently fired by the country which experts said could reach almost any
city in the US – and Mr Trump’s “volatile and impulsive personality,” Mr
Chalmers wrote.

“If war did begin, the President would be on the phone to 10 Downing
Street within an hour asking for support," he added. “The British prime minister would then have only a few hours, at most, to make clear how she
stood on what would be one of the most momentous strategic shocks of the post-Cold War era.”

Despite the enormity of the decision, “there would be little time for multiple consultations and deliberations before positions had to be
taken,” Mr Chalmers said.

“The die would be cast on Day One,” he added. “Whitehall needs to be preparing now for a range of possible scenarios that could unfold in the
coming months.”

The response offered by the UK would likely depend on who initiated the conflict, Mr Chalmers said. It is believed the UK could have little choice
but to offer “strong political support” if King-Jong Un, (error??) the North Korean leader, obviously started the conflict.

But the response could be different if the US was seen as having started
the war. Mr Chalmers suggested the best support the UK could offer in this scenario was diplomatic, with negotiations aimed at limiting the spread of conflict and ensure both the US and China were happy with any peace
agreement.

It was earlier reported that Kim Jong Un delayed a decision on firing
missiles towards Guam while he waited for the US’s next move. His plan to fire rockets towards the island, where the US has a key military base,
prompted a surge in tensions and a threat from Mr Trump that the American military was "locked and loaded" if it was provoked.

But experts have urged caution on the apparent decline in tensions.

Kim Dong-yub, a professor and military expert at Kyungnam University's Institute of Far Eastern Studies in Seoul, told Reuters: "There is no
stepping back for North Korea. Those who don't know the North very well
fall into this trap every time (thinking they are easing threats) but
we've seen this before."

### - seeming peace: these are always the dangerous moments?

but the fucker DID step back though, no?

(fuck me, there's 'some' hope in that at least!)

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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