War on Korean Peninsula closer than ever: Fmr. top US officer

Despite the recent breakthrough in direct talks between North and South Korea, the possibility of a military conflict Korean Peninsula is closer than ever, says the former top US general.

Speaking to BBC on Wednesday, Admiral Mike Mullen said the recent agreements between Seoul and Pyongyang for the upcoming Winter Olympics were just a “baby step” and he was “increasingly concerned” about the possibility of a military conflict in the region.

South Korea's unification ministry said Wednesday that athletes from the two Koreas were going to march under a "unified flag" at the games, which were due to be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, next month.

“I don’t think there is any question that we are,” the former top commander said if the world was closer to witness a war involving North Korea.

“I think you have see that in the increased readiness levels that both the United States has and our allies are working on as well,” he argued.

“I just don’t see anything moving in the right direction, so I think we are closer than we have been in decades in terms of potential conflict breaking out on that Peninsula,” he added.

South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said this week that although the talks represented a "significant step" the two sides were likely to hit serious challenges down the road, as more important issues like the North's ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs were discussed.

PressTV-US-North Korea nuclear war ‘closer than ever’

US Navy Admiral Mike Mullen says Pyongyang and Washington have never been so close to using nuclear weapons against each other.

Trump also downplayed the prospects of a diplomatic solution on Wednesday, saying he was willing to negotiate directly with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un but he doubted the crisis could be resolved “in a peaceful way.”

“I’d sit down, but I’m not sure that sitting down will solve the problem,” the US president said in a White House interview with Reuters on Wednesday.

Warning that any military action might lead to nuclear confrontation, Mullen called for a more serious debate over the use of nuclear weapons in the US.

 “I think we almost talk about it somewhat cavalierly in terms of just another level of combat,” he further argued. “They are the most devastating weapons on earth and so all efforts to press this to a solution that doesn’t involve combat and the potential for nuclear war have to be expended.”

He expressed hope that Trump’s team, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis, would first exhaust all diplomatic solutions before exploring military options.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk