Trump threatens North Korea, ‘forgets’ Asian neighbours

US President Donald Trump has threatened to fire bomb North Korea after it suggested it was ready to give Washington a “severe lesson” using nuclear force in response to any US military action. 

“North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen,” Trump told reporters during a briefing on opioid addiction at his golf course in New Jersey.

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But the consequences of a US strike on North Korea would be disastrous for neighbouring South Korea, Japan and even US’s own military personnel within range of a North Korean retaliation.  

ABC News reported that Japan’s Defence Ministry speculated in an annual white paper released yesterday that “it is possible that North Korea has achieved the miniaturisation of nuclear weapons and has developed nuclear warheads”.

And yesterday, The Washington Post reported that last month, the US had calculated that North Korea has up to 60 nuclear weapons – more than double what independent experts had assessed. 

However, North Korea says its intercontinental ballistic missiles are justifiable in terms of defending themselves against perceived US combat. 

Do you think Trump is being too harsh or are his comments warranted?