The US aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan, while patrolling a Japanese warship in a waters of the Korean peninsula. Photo / REUTERS
WASHINGTON - A report reveals that a US warship nearly fired a Tomahawk cruise missile into North Korea in September. The ship was given orders to prepare for a missile strike while patrolling the Sea of Japan, the peninsula of Korea.
A military inquiry known as "WARNO" was issued after North Korea tested a missile (missile) in September.
The secret order was disclosed by Washington, Foreign Policy (FP) media, citing sources of former Pentagon officials who knew the secret.
"It never happened to do that," said a former senior Pentagon official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"But, I would say this is a significant indicator that the possibility of using Tomahawk increases," he said.
The US carriers are currently patrolling the waters of the Korean peninsula to warn Pyongyang of military action.
"If North Korea launches missiles in Guam, Japan or South Korea, you would want your Tomahawk ready in such fast-moving scenarios if the president or the defense minister make the decision to respond with an offensive attack," the source added.
If a malicious warning is issued, this indicates how close the potential conflicts of both countries will occur. "WARNO" is basically an alarm that contains a precarious warning for the US military to take instant action.
"This is the fact that Tomahawk's attack on North Korea is uncomfortable, I suspect more about the fast attack because of 'Rocket Man' and this will make decisions that are not included in open provocation," Said Nevada naval commander Ted Johnson. "Rocket Man" is the nickname for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un who has been shot by President Donald Trump.
The US military's secret leak came as CIA Director Mike Pompeo warned that the United States should regard Kim Jong-un's regime as "at the top" capable of ordering nuclear-armed missile attacks on the US mainland.
Pompeo said that President Donald Trump was determined to prevent North Korea from making military technological breakthroughs. The break from Trump is likely to come in a month.
"They are pretty close now in their ability that from the perspective of US policy we should behave as if we are at the point where they (North Korea) achieve that goal," he said referring to Pyongyang's ability to launch a nuclear strike. []