Mattis warns North Korea to stand down or face 'end of regime'

Defense Secretary James Mattis on Wednesday warned North Korea to stop its pursuit of nuclear weapons or face the end of Pyongyang's regime and "the destruction of its people."


His comments come after the North Korean military threatened a missile strike near the U.S. territory of Guam, in response to comments made by President Donald Trump and a Pentagon bomber operation in the region.

Mattis said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un should "take heed" of the U.N. Security Council's statement that Pyongyang poses a global security threat.

"The [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] must choose to stop isolating itself and stand down its pursuit of nuclear weapons," he said, using the name North Korea calls itself. "The DPRK should cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime and the destruction of its people."

On Tuesday, Trump warned North Korea not to make any more threats against the United States. In July, North Korea said it would "strike a merciless blow" at the United States if Washington ever attempted to remove Kim from power.
 [upi.com]
9/8/17
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