North Korea would be "foolish" to conduct a nuclear attack because of the repercussions it would face, former Assistant Secretary of Defense Richard Perle told Newsmax TV.
During an appearance on "Newsmax Now," Perle said President Donald Trump's tweet about having a "much bigger and more powerful" nuclear button than North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was warranted and served a purpose.
"Obviously, people are anxious because you have some limited nuclear capability in the hands of North Koreans, and as I think President Trump was suggesting, a formidable nuclear capability in our hands," Perle said.
"One has reason to worry about the regime, but I would be very surprised if the North Koreans, despite all the talk, would do something so foolish as make serious preparations for a nuclear attack. We would detect those preparations, and I doubt that we would remain passive in the face of those preparations."
Important: Newsmax TV is available on DirecTV Ch. 349, U-Verse 1220, DISH 216, and FiOS 615. If your cable operator does not have Newsmax TV just call and ask them to put us on – Call toll-free 1-844-500-6397 and we will connect you right away to your cable operator!
For more places to Find Newsmax TV – Click Here Now
Perle served under former President Ronald Reagan. He later authored the book, "The Jerusalem Alternative."
Perle accused the Clinton administration of entering "foolish agreements with the North Koreans that only allowed them to continue their nuclear and missile development in the mistaken belief on the part of the Clinton administration that somehow that they would abandon those programs. They're never going to abandon those programs."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.