Kim Jong Un says he's going to hold off on firing missiles at Guam

Kim Jong Un.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, after being briefed by top military commanders, decided on Tuesday not to fire four missiles at Guam right away, North Korean state media reported, but said he'd likely change his mind if the "Yankees persist in their extremely dangerous, reckless actions on the Korean Peninsula."

Tensions have been high between the United States and North Korea. After several ballistic missile tests by North Korea, President Trump told Kim the U.S. would unleash "fire and fury" if pushed too far, and on Monday, Defense Secretary James Mattis said if any missile hit the U.S. territory of Guam, "it's game on." Experts say Kim's statement, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, is likely his attempt at de-escalating the situation.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.