The Australian argues that given the fast-escalating threat posed by Pyongyang's nuclear advances in building an intercontinental ballistic missile fitted with a nuclear warhead capable of reaching the US or even Australia, Mr Tillersons warning is appropriate.
Military action by the United States against nuclear-armed North Korea is an 'option on the table' if the threat from the rogue regime escalates, Washington's top diplomat Rex Tillerson said. The Australian welcomes his comments as previous US administrations failed its strategies toward North Korea.
Tillerson announced the end of United States' "strategic patience" - the stance of the previous administration under Barack Obama.
Certainly, we do not want things to get to a military conflict, Mr Tillerson said. But he added that if North Korea takes actions that threaten South Korean forces or our own forces, then that will be met with an appropriate response.
The Australian argues that given the fact that North Korea continues to ratchet up its military threats, Mr Tillersons warning is appropriate, therefore Australia should welcome a confident US even if we maintain reservations about the direction of trade policy.
