Saber rattling will not deter Kim Jong-un in his obsession to obtain an ICBM that can strike the United States.

First, the United States and South Korea conducted joint missile exercises off the east coast of the South Korean peninsula. Then, on July 8, American B-1 bombers flew over the Korean Peninsula, where they were joined by South Korean and American fighter jets. Now it is reported that the THAAD missile defense system will be tested.

All of this is saber rattling. The United States is unlikely to start a war with North Korea. The loss of life, likely hundreds of thousands of people, would be too high.

There are many things the United States can do to force North Korea to take the action it wants including telling China that exports to the U.S. will be limited unless there is clear evidence that North Korea has begun dismantling its nuclear and missile technology.  If I were president of the United States I would give China 60 days to produce verifiable results. 

Businesses in the United States will suffer if we limit imports from China but this is national security taking priority over American business interests. What President Trump needs to do is obvious but does he have the courage to take the needed action?