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"Ground invasion" is the only way to completely destroy the nuclear weapons program in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), a Pentagon assessment has said.
"The only way to 'locate and destroy – with complete certainty – all components of North Korea's nuclear weapons programs' is through a ground invasion," US Rear Admiral Michael Dumont told Congressman Ted Lieu in a letter on behalf of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the BBC reported on Sunday night.
But calculating "even the roughest" potential casualty figures would be extremely difficult, he added, warning that the DPRK could launch a nuclear counter-attack while US forces attempted to find and disable its "deeply buried, underground facilities."
South Korean soldiers take part in a military drill held as part of the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise in Yongin, South Korea, August 29, 2017.
Lieu, a Democrat congressman, called the assessment "deeply disturbing" in a statement with more than a dozen other congressmen.
A conflict with Pyongyang "could result in hundreds of thousands, or even millions of deaths in just the first few days of fighting," the statement said.
"Their assessment underscores what we've known all along: there are no good military options for North Korea(DPRK)."
US President Donald Trump, who is currently on a five-nation tour of Asia, warned in September that Washington may "have no choice but to totally destroy" the DPRK unless it backs down from its nuclear position.
"The President needs to stop making provocative statements that hinder diplomatic options and put American troops further at risk," Lieu said in the statement.
China has urged both Washington and Pyongyang to exercise restraint to avoid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, stressing that dialogue and negotiation are the only way out to the crisis.
US President Donald Trump and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meet with their wives Melania and Akie for a dinner at a restaurant in Tokyo, Japan, November 5, 2017.
Trump 'open' to meeting Kim Jong Un
In an interview broadcast Sunday, Trump said he would "certainly be open" to meeting DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, according to an AFP report.
DPRK leader Kim Jong Un
Asked by journalist Sharyl Attkisson, host of the "Full Measure" TV show, whether he would ever consider sitting down with Kim, the US president said, "I would sit down with anybody."
The DPRK nuclear issue tops Trump's agenda during his first diplomatic trip to Asia.
He is due to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday, before meeting South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week.
"I don't think it's strength or weakness, I think sitting down with people is not a bad thing," Trump said in the interview. "So I would certainly be open to doing that but we'll see where it goes, I think we're far too early."
(CGTN)
