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WAR OF WORDS

This is the secret signal the US will use to declare WAR on North Korea

A navy destroyer issued a flash 'warning order' to prepare for a cruise missile attack on the despot state in September, according to reports

THE secret signal the US will use to declare WAR on Kim Jong-un may have just been revealed by a US naval ship.

American news service Foreign Policy (FP) reports that a destroyer issued a flash "warning order" in September to prepare for a Tomahawk cruise missile attack on North Korea.

 The guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) as it launches a missile during a live-fire test in August
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The guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) as it launches a missile during a live-fire test in AugustCredit: AFP
 The guided missile destroyer USS Porter launches a Tomahawk missile towards Iraq during the initial stages of shock and awe in 2003
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The guided missile destroyer USS Porter launches a Tomahawk missile towards Iraq during the initial stages of shock and awe in 2003Credit: AFP
 Donald Trump has taken a tough stance with the North Korea regime, and not ruled out military action
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Donald Trump has taken a tough stance with the North Korea regime, and not ruled out military actionCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Trump’s top security adviser HR McMaster has spoken about how the US President plans to deal with North Korea
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Trump’s top security adviser HR McMaster has spoken about how the US President plans to deal with North Korea

The battle station alarm is called a WARNO, which alerts the crew to be ready to strike instantly.

A former senior defence official told Foreign Policy. “I would say it is a fairly significant indicator that the possibility of using Tomahawks is rising.”

The official stated that it's not "unheard" to issue a WARNO and does not necessarily mean Washington is preparing to attack the secret state.

But former naval commander Ted Johnson told FP: “The fact that it’s for a Tomahawk strike into [North Korea] feels ominous, but my guess it’s more about having a quick strike response should ‘Rocket Man’ make an irrational decision and overt provocation."

Sneak peek inside the USS Washington, the US Navy's newest Virginia-class attack submarine
 The USS Mustin (DDG 89) fires its close-in weapons system during a live-fire event to the east of the Korean Penninsula in October
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The USS Mustin (DDG 89) fires its close-in weapons system during a live-fire event to the east of the Korean Penninsula in OctoberCredit: Reuters
 The USS Michigan (SSGN 727), a nuclear-powered guided missile submarine in the US Navy, is docked at naval base in Busan in South Korea in October
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The USS Michigan (SSGN 727), a nuclear-powered guided missile submarine in the US Navy, is docked at naval base in Busan in South Korea in OctoberCredit: EPA

The revelation comes as CIA director Mike Pompeo warns that the United States should assume Kim Jong-un’s regime is “on the cusp” of getting a nuclear missile capable of striking mainland targets.

The CIA head said President Donald Trump is determined to prevent North Korea from making such a military technological breakthrough.

Both Pompeo and US National Security Adviser HR McMaster said Trump would still prefer to use sanctions and diplomacy to force Kim to come to the table to discuss disarmament.

“The president’s made it very clear,” he said at a Washington policy forum.

“He’s prepared to ensure that Kim Jong-un doesn’t have the capacity to hold America at risk. By military force if necessary.”

How big is North Korea's army and what missiles does Kim Jong-un have?

This week, North Korea’s deputy UN ambassador declared that Pyongyang would not put its nuclear arsenal nor ballistic missile program on the table unless Washington drops its “hostile” stance.

And Kim’s regime has made no secret of its efforts to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting US mainland cities or bases in the Pacific, conducting regular tests.

McMaster told the conference, organised by the Federation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), that the regime would not be allowed to develop arms that would threaten the United States.

“We are not out of time but we are running out of time,” Trump’s top security adviser said.

“The president has been very clear. He’s not going to accept this regime threatening the United States with nuclear weapons,” he warned.

 Mike Pompero, the Director of the CIA, has warned that the US must be prepared for North Korea to strike at any time
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Mike Pompero, the Director of the CIA, has warned that the US must be prepared for North Korea to strike at any timeCredit: Getty Images
 Trump named the respected Lieutenant General Herbert Raymond McMaster as his new National Security Adviser
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Trump named the respected Lieutenant General Herbert Raymond McMaster as his new National Security Adviser
U.S. Military launches rockets in south korea during live-fire training
 Kim has long bragged his weapons can hit US territories and conducted repeated missile tests, flouting international sanctions
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Kim has long bragged his weapons can hit US territories and conducted repeated missile tests, flouting international sanctionsCredit: Reuters

Meanwhile, former US Secretary of State John Kerry slammed Trump's tough-talking rhetoric about Iran and North Korea, reported .

He said: “If you want to negotiate with Kim Jong-un, and your goal is to avoid war and try to be able to have diplomatic resolution, the worst thing you can do is first threaten to destroy his country in the United Nations."

He added: “The scenario that Trump opens up by saying ‘let’ get rid of the deal’ is actually proliferation, far more damaging and dangerous.”

A version of this story appeared on .


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