Consequences of Preemptive Military Attack against North Korea by the USA
The former USA congressman Duncan Hunter’s argument that the United States should launch a preemptive military attack against North Korea would result in massive negative repercussions, thus hindering President Trump’s re-election in 2020 (Davis, 2016). America is a world-leading democracy and a respecter of the rule of law; thus, the attacks in North Korea would not be an easy decision to make. It would be a wide range of consulting decisions, and the 2020 elections question would play a role.
In my thinking, I don’t think President Trump is not likely to start a war with North Korea since there is a likelihood of counter attacks by North Korea. Most Pundits in Washington, DC have put assertions that the preemptive attacks and strikes in North Korea by the USA government would trigger immense counterattack by President Kim Jong-un (Lee, 2017). Many USA citizens stay in South Korea, which would be very risky because the North Korean military’s airstrikes would harm them and put them at risk (Bar-Yam, 2017). The serial counterattacks would put millions of Americans’ lives in danger; thus, the decision to attack North Korea is highly unlikely to happen.
The preemptive attack against North Korea is not likely to be affected by President Donald Trump’s administration as it would attract international resentment (Delury, 2017). It is expected that most world leaders will not accept the United States’ attacks on North Korea. It thus would result in plummeting approval ratings of approval of President Donald Trump’s administration hence jeopardizing his bid for re-election in 2020 ( Davis,2016 ). The preemptive attacks against North Korea would lead to domestic disenchantment that would lead to President Donald Trump losing an election as in the case of President George H.W Bush lose to Hillary Clinton after the Iraq attacks. These factors make it almost impossible for the Republican government of Donald Trump to conduct military attacks against North Korea.
I don’t think Donald Trump would follow Duncan Hunter’s views regarding the preemptive military attack against North Korea because it would devastate the United States of America. In case the USA decides to employ military action against North Korea, it would also be mutually responsible for bringing into play its nuclear weapons, which would be dangerous (Delury, 2017). This had been discussed in a letter addressed to congressional representatives by Tillerson (Bar-Yam, 2017). The United States of America can suffer great losses and is likely to bear great consequences of nuclear weapons’ effects.
Donald Trump’s administration is not likely to consider Duncan Hunter’s arguments on the preemptive attack against North Korea as it would be against international laws and statutes (Lee, 2017). The Trump government is highly likely not to take Hunter’s advice as this would violate the US obligations to respect international security and sovereignty laws (Delury, 2017). The preemptive military action against North Korea by the United States of America is incompatible with international law; thus, its condemnation is spelled out in the international laws.
Donald Trump is not likely to implement the persuasions to take up military attacks against North Korea because it would put his political stakes in limbo. Defying military expert’s advice would lead to dire consequences such as the resignation of some top military officials and the president’s attempts or impeachment, which could put at risk his 2020 presidential re-election bid.
Carrying out war against North Korea would make Trump and the United States of America lose most of its Asia allies. Starting a nuclear war against the North Korean government would do away with the few remaining world goodwill towards the United States of America, including their allies in Asia (Bar-Yam, 2017). Donald Trump’s government would not initiate the attacks on North Korea as it would lead to Washington losing the backing from their traditionally friendly nations. This is highly likely to make countries like Russia and China hold up efforts to constrain the United States of America. In the face of the United Nations and world nations, Washington has made tremendous efforts in championing against criminality and restore respect to human rights; these are good deeds that have aided in promoting and protecting the reputation of the united states of America’s reputation (Delury, 2017). The preemptive military attack against North Korea would soil this decent reputation and present America as the world’s greatest warlike country.
In conclusion, President’s Donald Trump is not likely to heed the advice from the former congressman, Duncan Hunter of San Diego, to conduct a preemptive military attack against North Korea for a myriad of reasons; it would jeopardize President Trump’s re-election chances and would result to counter military attacks from the North Korean ruler. Moreover, the idea of attacking North Korea is not likely to be achieved because of America’s obligations to respect international laws and security.
References
Bar-Yam, Y. (2017). Will Threats Against North Korea Achieve US Objectives?.
Davis, J. (Ed.). (, 2016). Presidential Policies and the Road to the Second Iraq War: From Forty-One to Forty-Three. Routledge.
Delury, J. (2017). Trump and North Korea: Reviving the art of the deal. Foreign Aff., 96, 46.
Lee, E. Y. J. (2017). Will Trump’s Military Option Against North Korea Work-Legal and Political Restraints. JE Asia & Int’l L., 10, 451.