{"id":16292,"date":"2017-09-14T14:06:42","date_gmt":"2017-09-14T14:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/09\/14\/mattis-us-is-not-intimidated-by-north-korea\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:50:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:50:34","slug":"mattis-us-is-not-intimidated-by-north-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2017\/09\/14\/mattis-us-is-not-intimidated-by-north-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"Mattis: US is not intimidated by North Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. \u2014 He inspected a mock-up nuclear warhead, but there was no Kim Jong Un lookalike posing for photographs. He chatted with nuclear missile launch officers in their underground command post, but there was no talk of unleashing nuclear hell on North Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A subtle, unspoken message of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis\u2019 visit to this nuclear weapons base Wednesday was that America is a mature nuclear power not intimidated by threats from an upstart North Korean leader who flaunts his emerging nuclear muscle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattis was quietly reminding North Korea that it has no match for a U.S. nuclear arsenal that, while old, is still capable of sudden and swift destruction if Kim were to throw the first nuclear punch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his only public comments, Mattis cast his visit as part of an effort to ensure that the U.S. maintains the kind of nuclear firepower that convinces any potential nuclear opponent that attacking would be suicidal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can leave no doubt at all,\u201d he told reporters traveling with him. \u201cDon\u2019t try it. It won\u2019t work. You can\u2019t take us out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t