US Plans Military Exercises with SKorea

The U.S. is going to spend a great deal of effort trying to get China to take a more “robust” stand against North Korea’s actions, according to ABC News. “We need to send a strong signal to the Chinese that they need to stand up to North Korea,” an official told ABC, adding that Russia’s statement condemning this attack was much stronger than after the North Koreans sank the ROKS Cheonan (PCC-772) in March 2010.

“There’s a greater degree of alarm in the international community,” the official said, though China needs to be worked on.

The U.S. is discussing with allies a whole range of actions, including action at the United Nations Security Council and further sanctions. No decisions have been made yet, the consultation process is in the “initial stages.”

One possibility we may see in the coming days: more joint US-South Korea military exercises, to demonstrate solidarity and support.

President Obama spent 20 minutes in the Situation Room late afternoon, discussing North Korea with top national security advisers.

The Obama administration is “not looking to escalate” this situation, the official said. “We don’t see this as North Korea wanting to go to war.”