The US is considering the possibility of assassinating the North Korean leader.

(Baonghean.vn) - Several high-ranking US intelligence and military officials said the National Security Council (NSC) has presented President Donald Trump with several options for dealing with North Korea's nuclear program, including deploying nuclear weapons in South Korea or assassinating North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects military exercises in Pyongyang. Photo: KCNA

These two scenarios are part of an assessment of North Korea policy, prepared ahead of a meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The White House hopes China will exert more influence on North Korea through diplomacy and increased sanctions.

However, if this fails and North Korea continues to pursue its nuclear weapons development program, there are still several other options that could cause a significant shift in U.S. policy.

The first and most controversial option being considered is deploying nuclear weapons in South Korea. The U.S. withdrew all its nuclear weapons from South Korea 25 years ago. Bringing nuclear bombs back, possibly to Osan Air Base (about 80 km south of Seoul), would mark the first time Washington has deployed nuclear weapons overseas since the Cold War – an undeniably aggressive move.

However, this idea is seen as undermining the U.S. goal of a nuclear-free zone and weakening South Korea's moral authority to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

In addition, the US has another option: assassinating Kim Jong-un and other high-ranking officials in charge of North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, as well as controlling the decision-making process.

Mark Lippert, former US Ambassador to South Korea and Assistant Secretary of Defense under former President Barack Obama, argues that this option has many negative aspects. According to Lippert, discussing regime change and the removal of the supreme leader in North Korea would alarm China, causing Beijing to move in the opposite direction, instead of increasing pressure on Pyongyang as the US desires.

A third option is covert action, allowing U.S.-South Korean special forces to infiltrate North Korea, secretly sabotaging or destroying critical infrastructure—such as blowing up bridges or disrupting the movement of mobile missiles. Former NATO commander Stavridis argues this option is the “best strategy” should the U.S. be forced to use military action.

Last year, Seoul announced the establishment of a special operations unit called Spartan 3000, operating behind enemy lines inside North Korea.

Lan Ha

(According to NBC News)