On Wednesday, Defense Secretary James Mattis issued a stark warning to North Korea, redrawing the red line at any potential nuclear action, rather than just the threat of it. Mattis advised North Korea to "stand down its pursuit of nuclear weapons" and "cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime and the destruction of its people."
"The DPRK regime's actions will continue to be grossly overmatched by ours and would lose any arms race or conflict it initiates," Mattis said, making clear that while "diplomatic means" are preferable, the State Department has "the most precise, rehearsed, and robust defensive and offensive capabilities on Earth" at hand. Mattis also noted that President Trump, who on Tuesday threatened to meet any further North Korean nuclear activity with "fire and fury," has "emphasized the readiness of our ballistic missile defense and nuclear deterrent forces" since taking office.
Read Mattis' statement in full below. Becca Stanek
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Heavenly spectacle in the wilds of CanadaThe Week Recommends ‘Mind-bending’ outpost for spotting animals – and the northern lights
-
Facial recognition: a revolution in policingTalking Point All 43 police forces in England and Wales are set to be granted access, with those against calling for increasing safeguards on the technology
-
Codeword: December 14, 2025The daily codeword puzzle from The Week
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
