But first, war games in Korea.
For decades, the U.S. and South Koreans have practiced military exercises, often involving
tens of thousands of troops and massive firepower.
The U.S. says they’re designed to enhance readiness and maintain stability.
The drills that started Monday and will continue into next week don’t look particularly threatening.
But some Korea watchers are calling them provocative.
NEWSHOUR special correspondent Nick Schifrin has this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK SCHIFRIN, PBS NEWSHOUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As visuals go, this is as provocative
as this month's U.S.-South Korea exercises get.
Four men with 15 stars in front of a Patriot missile defense system in South Korea.
GEN.
VINCENT BROOKS, U.S. ARMY: We have had the responsibility of providing military options
to our national leaders.
And exercises are a way of making sure that the option is a ready option, it’s a capable
option.
SCHIFRIN: General Vincent Brooks is the U.S.' top commander in South Korea.
He is leading exercises that are almost entirely computer simulations, as seen here in the
2013 version.
It doesn't look like much, but the exercises allow the U.S. and South Korea militaries
to test their communication in case of war.
BROOKS: Being in readiness to fight tonight if we have to is what we’ll do.
SCHIFRIN: But exercises the U.S. calls defensive North Korea calls provocative.
Today, state TV showed a smiling Kim Jong-un ordering the production of more rocket warheads
and engines.
And a not so subtle hint on the poster that North Korea is developing a new missile design.
North Korea said the exercises were driving the peninsula to war, and vowed to respond.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): U.S. warmongers ignored our warning that they
should act cautiously and instead made a dangerous military provocation.
They will not be able to avoid merciless retaliation and unsparing punishment.
BALBINA HWANG, VISITING PROFESSOR, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: To say these defensive, deterrence
exercises are the cause of North Korea's insecurity simply have it backwards.
SCHIFRIN: Balbina Hwang is a visiting Georgetown professor and former senior State Department
advisor on North Korea.
She points out in the last few years, the North Koreans have dramatically increased
their missile tests and missile capacities.
And it's those tests that make U.S. preparedness crucial.
HWANG: It is very important for the U.N. forces, U.S. and South Korea, to be able to maintain
constantly, modern, capable defense and deterrence.
That is the purpose of the exercise.
SCHIFRIN: But the U.S. and South Korea also conduct annual exercises with massive numbers
of forces, and massive amounts of live fire.
These are held every spring, and when considered alongside with this month's exercises, the
U.S. should acknowledge North Korean anxieties are legitimate, argues Mansfield Foundation
President Frank Jannuzi.
FRANK JANNUZI, PRESIDENT, MANSFIELD FOUNDATION: Every time we are practicing, whether it's
field exercises, or even a table top exercise, they get a little bit nervous about what we
might do.
They also worry about the capabilities that we're demonstrating.
And in this particular exercise in the past, we have sometimes demonstrated a capability
to launch a decapitation attack, attacking the North Korean leadership.
SCHIFRIN: Jannuzi participated in 2004 talks that froze and dismantled North Korea's nuclear
program in exchange for economic assistance.
He was a State Department and congressional North Korea policy analyst.
He believes these exercises contribute to increased tensions, and that the U.S. should
change them to send a signal.
JANNUZI: Deterrence can be bolstered without flexing our muscles with B-52 bombers, or
B-2 bombers, nuclear capable strike aircraft that could annihilate North Korea.
We don't need necessarily to practice those martial arts.
SCHIFRIN: Over the last few weeks, some of the tension has cooled.
Last night, President Trump even praised Kim Jong-un.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I believe he is starting to respect us, I
respect that fact very much.
Respect that fact.
And maybe, probably not, but maybe, something positive can come about.
SCHIFRIN: And North Korea, despite fiery rhetoric, has indicated it doesn't want increased conflict.
HWANG: All this talk and rhetoric about shooting missiles and sea of fire and nuclear war,
that's talk.
But what we’re(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK SCHIFRIN, PBS NEWSHOUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As visuals go, this is as provocative
as this month's U.S.-South Korea exercises get.
Four men with 15 stars in front of a Patriot missile defense system in South Korea.
GEN.
VINCENT BROOKS, U.S. ARMY: We have had the responsibility of providing military options
to our national leaders.
And exercises are a way of making sure that the option is a ready option, it’s a capable
option.
SCHIFRIN: General Vincent Brooks is the U.S.' top commander in South Korea.
He is leading exercises that are almost entirely computer simulations, as seen here in the
2013 version.
It doesn't look like much, but the exercises allow the U.S. and South Korea militaries
to test their communication in case of war.
the actual actions.
We do not see any particular increase in North Korean military readiness for war.
We don’t see any sort of major maneuvering that would indicate that North Korea is ready
to launch any kind of major conventional or military strike.
JANNUZI: A close reading of the North Korea's statements has provided signals to the United
States, that, in fact, they are open to negotiations, they’re willing to sit down and talk with
us.
We need to test them and we need to explore what, if anything, is possible through those
talks.
SCHIFRIN: And those commanders leading this month's exercise, including Admiral Harry
Harris, say they hope their readiness creates room for diplomacy.
ADM.
HARRY HARRIS, U.S. NAVY: Incredible combat power should be in support of diplomacy, and
not the other way around.
SCHIFRIN: So, the U.S. exercises and the North Korean rhetoric will continue.
But, from all indications, both sides hope the preparations for war and the threats of
war don't lead to war.
For the PBS NEWSHOUR, I’m Nick Schifrin.