The possibility of the U.S. engaging in a nuclear conflict with North Korea has risen in the last five years, according to a former military official.
Retired Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2007 to 2011, appeared on ABC's This Week on Sunday to discuss recent tensions with North Korea. During the interview, Mullen estimated that the chance of a nuclear conflict with the East Asian nation is "more possible than it was five years ago." That response came after a question about a previous interview with the same journalist from December 2017, in which the retired military officer said that the U.S. was the closest it had come to nuclear conflict with North Korea.
"I think it's still moving closer from the standpoint of, [Kim Jong Un] is testing, I think it's a record number of [missile] tests this year, 27 I think is the number," Mullen said Sunday. "So, his research and development is moving along. So, it's more likely that he has the capability. I think, in the end, it comes down to, 'Will he ever use it?' And I just don't know the answer to that. So, in that regard, we're in a more dangerous position now than we were five years ago."
North Korea conducted its seventh weapons test in two weeks earlier on Sunday, firing two short-range ballistic missiles to the east as the U.S. and South Korea conducted a joint military exercise. The Asian nation's rate of weapons testing has reached an all-time high in the past year, following a brief period when it slowed down. Earlier in the week, Pyongyang fired a missile over neighboring Japan during a test—prompting an alert from the Japanese government for citizens to take shelter.
Jenny Town, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center and the director of Stimson's 38 North Program, previously told Newsweek that the reason testing previously slowed down, particularly during 2018 when no tests occurred, was likely due to the fact that the Trump administration was negotiating with North Korea. Testing resumed following the failure of a 2019 Hanoi Summit to establish improved ties between the two countries.
Mullen added during his appearance on This Week that de-escalation from North Korea will most likely come as a result of intervention from its close allies in the Chinese government. He also did not rule out the possibility of denuclearization as a possibility for Pyongyang, though he did admit that the chances are remote.
"Kim Jong Un is following his father, his grandfather, this cycle of provocation," Mullen said. "Whether we're able to break it or not, I don't know."
When reached by Newsweek for comment, the Department of Defense referred to prior comments on North Korea made by Brigadier General Pat Ryder on Thursday.
"The United States strongly condemns this irresponsible act, which violates numerous unanimous United Nations Security Council mandates," Ryder said at a press conference. "The DPRK is urged to immediately cease actions that violate U.N. Security Council resolutions, escalate military tensions, destabilize the region, and endanger the peace and security of innocent people... Moving forward, we will continue to consult closely with our allies and partners and stand ready to respond appropriately to any potential future provocative acts by North Korea. As always, we remain committed to preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific and peace and stability throughout the region."
Update 10/10/22, 6:35 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information and background.
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