In what Politico billed as an apparent rebuttal of White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, Defense Secretary James Mattis vowed “strong military consequences” for North Korea (DPRK) if the rogue nation, a burgeoning nuclear threat, strikes the United States or its allies.
“I just can assure you that, in close collaboration with our allies, there are strong military consequences if the DPRK initiates hostilities,” Sec. Mattis said to conclude a bilateral security meeting Thursday with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, and Foreign Minister Taro Kono at the State Department.
“Any initiation of hostilities will be met with an effective and overwhelming response,” Mattis said in his initial statement.
Bannon might be removed as President Donald Trump’s chief strategist amid comments the United States has “no military solution” for North Korea aggression, Newsmax White House correspondent John Gizzi reported earlier Thursday.
“There’s no military solution —
