Pentagon: Ground invasion needed to secure North Korean nuclear sites Presented by Northrop Grumman

With Eli Okun, Connor O’Brien, Jacqueline Klimas, Wesley Morgan, Sarah Ferris and John Bresnahan

TOP NEWS — PENTAGON PEERS AT A NEW KOREAN WAR, via The Washington Post: “The only way to locate and secure all of North Korea’s nuclear weapons sites ‘with complete certainty’ is through an invasion of ground forces, and in the event of conflict, Pyongyang could use biological and chemical weapons, the Pentagon told lawmakers in a new, blunt assessment of what war on the Korean Peninsula might look like.


“The Pentagon, in a letter to lawmakers, said that a full discussion of U.S. capabilities to ‘counter North Korea’s ability to respond with a nuclear weapon and to eliminate North Korea’s nuclear weapons located in deeply buried, underground facilities’ is best suited for a classified briefing.

“The letter also said that Pentagon leaders ‘assess that North Korea may consider the use of biological weapons’ and that the country ‘has a long-standing chemical weapons program with the capability to produce nerve, blister, blood and choking agents.’”

— ‘ERA OF STRATEGIC PATIENCE IS OVER,’ Trump says in Japan via The Washington Post: “President Trump continued his tough line on both North Korea and trade Monday, standing alongside Japanese Prime Minster and promising to work in solidarity with Japan to confront ‘the North Korean menace.’

“At an afternoon news conference with Abe here, Trump declared, ‘the era of strategic patience is over,’ and promised to counter ‘the dangerous aggressions’ of a country whose leader the president has repeatedly dubbed ‘Rocket Man.’

“‘The regime continues development of its unlawful weapons programs, including its illegal nuclear tests and outrageous launches of ballistic missiles directly overly Japanese territory,’ Trump said. ‘We will not stand for that.’”

“Maximizing pressure” on North Korea remains his top priority, POLITICO’s Andrew Restuccia adds.

And Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe backs the strategy , via Reuters.

Here’s what Trump is missing by skipping a visit to the DMZ, via our colleague Jacqueline Klimas.

Meanwhile, U.S. officials fear North Korea will greet Trump with a missile test, reports POLITICO’s Michael Crowley.

FOR YOUR RADAR — TRUMP EXPECTS TO MEET PUTIN DURING TRIP, Andrew reports: “President Donald Trump said Sunday that he expects to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his Asia visit. … Putin is expected to participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vietnam, which Trump will also attend later in his 13-day swing through Asia.”

But Russia and the U.S. have “no cooperation” on North Korea, the Kremlin says via the Washington Examiner.

And a Syria settlement may be on the agenda when Trump and Putin meet, Reuters reports. But a Russian-backed Syrian congress is postponed, according to a Turkish presidential spokesman, Reuters adds.

Meanwhile, Russian bombers strike Islamic State targets in Syria, the RIA News Agency reports via Reuters.

— HOUSE PANELS EYE RUSSIA COUNTERTERRORISM OPS: Two House Foreign Affairs subcommittees hear from think-tank analysts Tuesday on "Russia: Counterterrorism Partner or Fanning the Flames?"

IT’S MONDAY AND WELCOME TO MORNING DEFENSE, where we're always on the lookout for tips, pitches and feedback. Email us at [email protected], and follow on Twitter @greg_hellman, @morningdefense and @politicopro.

MD TRIVIA: Jacob Marx was the first to correctly identify that President Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to visit Southeast Asia during his administration, when he made a state visit to the Philippines in 1960.

Tune in Friday for this week’s question.

HAPPENING TODAY — NIELSEN CONFIRMATION QUESTIONNAIRE: Kirstjen Nielsen, the president’s nominee for Homeland Security secretary, will interview with the staff of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as part of the confirmation process, according to two sources with knowledge of the meeting. And our colleagues at Morning Shift have obtained a copy of Nielsen’s pre-hearing questionnaire.

Her confirmation hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

AND COMING THIS WEEK — MATTIS VISITS EUROPE, reports our colleague Wesley Morgan: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis [left Sunday] for a five-day trip to Europe...He'll begin in Helsinki with a meeting of the 12-nation Northern Group forum, including representatives from eight Nordic and Baltic countries, the U.K., Germany, Poland and the Netherlands...

“Later in the week, Mattis will attend a forum of NATO defense ministers in Brussels and chair a bloc of ministers from countries participating in the fight against the Islamic State.”

— REQUEST FOR MORE DEFENSE FUNDING EXPECTED: The Trump administration could send a request for billions of dollars more in defense spending to Congress as early as this week. Aides for both the House Appropriations and Armed Services panels said they expect an amendment to the Trump administration's defense budget request.

The budget amendment, upwards of $6 billion, could potentially include funding for missile defense in response to North Korean missile launches, additional troops in Afghanistan and more operations and maintenance funding for the Navy following the USS Fitzgerald and McCain collisions in the Pacific.

Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White would not confirm the budget plans to Morning D over the weekend "as it remains an active conversation." Stay tuned, she said, pointing to this week when "we should know more.”

Defense hawks on Capitol Hill are likely to support such request as lawmakers wind down NDAA talks and look ahead to government funding talks after Thanksgiving.

— NDAA TALKS NEAR COMPLETION, via our colleague Connor O’Brien, Armed Services leaders were optimistic on Friday their negotiations were almost finished: “The top House Armed Services Democrat said [Friday] he's optimistic negotiations with the Senate over the National Defense Authorization Act will be wrapped up by the weekend. … Even when the talks end, the final compromise bill must be assembled and approved by the conferees, so key details are not likely to surface publicly until early next week.”

Meanwhile Thornberry warns against another continuing spending resolution that extends past late December. "So what if you need three days to finish the appropriation? Well, you know, I'm not going to be foolish, but I'm not going to vote for a CR that goes past Christmas," Thornberry told Connor.

— SASC CONSIDERS MORE PENTAGON NOMINEES: The Senate Armed Services Committee holds confirmation hearings Tuesday for the next batch of Pentagon nominees, including Robert Behler to be director of operational test and evaluation, Dean Winslow to be assistant secretary of Defense for health affairs, Thomas Modly to be undersecretary of the Navy and James Geurts to be assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition.

On Thursday, the committee holds more confirmation hearings to consider the nominations of Robert McMahon to be assistant secretary of Defense for logistics and materiel readiness, R.D. James to be assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, Bruce Jette to be assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, and Shon Manasco to be assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs.

Additionally, the Senate Commerce Committee is set to mark up Wednesday Rep. Jim Bridenstine’s (R-Okla.) nomination for NASA administrator.

TEXAS CHURCH SHOOTER SUSPECT REPORTED DISCHARGED FROM THE AIR FORCE, reports The New York Times: “A gunman clad in all black, with a ballistic vest strapped to his chest and a military-style rifle in his hands, opened fire on parishioners at a Sunday service at a small Baptist church in rural Texas, killing at least 26 people and turning this tiny town east of San Antonio into the scene of the country’s newest mass horror.

“The gunman was identified as Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing. Mr. Kelley, who lived in New Braunfels, Tex., died shortly after the attack.

“He had served in the Air Force at a base in New Mexico but was court-martialed in 2012 on charges of assaulting his wife and child. He was sentenced to 12 months’ confinement and received a “bad conduct” discharge in 2014, according to Ann Stefanek, the chief of Air Force media operations.”

In Tokyo, the president says the church shooting is about mental health, not guns, via The Associated Press.

LCS CHAMPION BYRNE NOT A ‘ONE-TRICK PONY,’ he tells Connor in a POLITICO Pro Q&A: “Rep. Bradley Byrne’s Mobile-based district in Alabama is home to one of the two shipyards that build the Littoral Combat Ship. And not surprisingly in his second full term, the Republican congressman has emerged as one of the ship's most vocal proponents.

“‘It’s the one I’ve been the most outspoken on because there’s not really anybody else to be that person,’ Byrne says.

“At the same time, he says he’s not ‘a one-trick pony.’”

INDUSTRY INTEL — FRIGATE RFP PIONEERS NEW SHIPBUILDING APPROACH, writes Breaking Defense: “When the Navy publishes its Request for Proposals to design a new frigate...there should be no surprises for industry. That’s by, well, design. In stark contrast to the predecessor program, the Littoral Combat Ship, where the Navy changed key specs midway through construction at great expense, the frigate is a test case for a new approach to building ships that seeks to squeeze out uncertainty early.

“To borrow buzzwords from the admirals at [last] week’s Naval Submarine League conference, the new approach combines ‘set-based design’ with ‘industry-informed requirements.’ In layman’s terms, that means explore a wide range of options at the start, talk to industry early and often, then lock down requirements and move fast to get ships in the water.”

And here’s how robots will help the Navy avoid future collisions, writes Defense One.

SAUDI ARABIA INTERCEPTS BALLISTIC MISSILE FROM YEMEN, reports the NYT: “A ballistic missile fired from Yemen came close to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Saturday and was intercepted by the Saudi military over the city’s international airport, the Saudi defense ministry said.

“Coming on a day of increasing regional tensions, it was the first time such an attack had come so close to the center of Riyadh in the two years since Saudi Arabia started a war against the Houthi rebel group that toppled Yemen’s government.

“Yemen’s Houthi-controlled defense ministry said its forces had targeted the airport with a long-range missile called the Burqan 2H in response to an attack by the Saudi-led coalition on Wednesday that killed 26 people in a hotel and a nearby market. But the Saudi-led coalition suggested the attack had been ordered by Iran, which it said backs the Houthis.”

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen closes the ports of the Arab world’s poorest country, blaming Iran and warning it could be “considered an act of war.” The move follows a car bomb attack at the government’s security headquarters, claimed by ISIS, reports the AP.

And the coalition defends an airstrike reported to kill 26 people as a legitimate target, Reuters adds.

Meanwhile, the chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard denies “slanders” alleging Iranian involvement, including accusations from Trump, via Reuters.

— TRUMP COULD LET UAE BUY F-35’S, writes Defense News: “As part of a larger U.S. strategy for enhanced strategic cooperation with the United Arab Emirates, the Trump administration has agreed to consider a long-standing request by Abu Dhabi to enter into preliminary talks on future procurement of the F-35 joint strike fighter.

“While no decision has been made, the willingness to consider extending a classified briefing to the UAE as the first significant step toward acquisition of the fifth-generation stealth fighter signals a departure from policy enforced under former President Barack Obama.”

WAR REPORT — ARMY IDENTIFIES A GREEN BERET KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN, via Military.com: “The U.S. Army has identified the Green Beret killed yesterday during combat operations in eastern Afghanistan.

“The service on Sunday said the casualty was Sgt. 1st Class, Stephen B. Cribben, 33, of Simi Valley, Calif. Cribben, a senior communications sergeant assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Carson, Colo., was killed on Saturday ‘as a result of wounds sustained while engaged in combat operations,’ according to a release from U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

“He is the second U.S. soldier to die in Logar Province in the eastern part of the country in slightly more than a week.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. investigates reports of up to 13 civilian casualties resulting from an operation in northern Afghanistan, Reuters reports.

And a Hague prosecutor seeks to pursue an Afghan case that could ensnare Americans, adds the NYT.

— U.S. BOMBS ISIS IN SOMALIA FOR FIRST TIME, reports the NYT: “The United States military bombed Islamic State fighters in Somalia for the first time on Friday, a sign that the air campaign against the group was expanding after recent battlefield successes against the militants in Iraq and Syria. Several militants were killed in a pair of strikes hours apart in the country’s northeast, according to a statement from United States Africa Command.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. orders non-essential workers out of Mogadishu over a specific threat related to the capital city’s airport, via The Wall Street Journal.

And the deaths of the four U.S. soldiers in Niger hint at the shadow war against ISIS in Africa, writes The Washington Post.

SPEED READ

— Special counsel Robert Mueller has enough evidence to bring charges against former White House National Security Adviser retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn: NBC News

— Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross hid business links to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s family: NBC News

— Saudi Arabia arrests 11 princes, including billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal: NYT

— Said Hariri quits as Lebanon’s prime minister, blaming Iran: NYT

— Western intelligence is reported to have warned Hariri of a death plot against him: Reuters

— The “Fat Leonard” probe expands to ensnare more than 60 Navy admirals: The Washington Post

— Iran-Saudi cold war intensifies as militant threat fades: WSJ

— Iran displays a missile on the anniversary of the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover: WSJ

— The life and times of the Navy SEAL killed in Yemen: The Daily Beast

— How the Kurdish quest for independence backfired: NYT

— Two suicide attacks in Kirkuk kill at least five: Reuters

— Syria and Iraq rob ISIS of key territory: WSJ

— The Justice Department is “woefully unprepared” to handle the New York City terrorist attack, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says: POLITICO

— Republicans go quiet on Gitmo: NYT

— The president calls the lack of prison time for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl “a complete and total disgrace:” POLITICO

— Philippines hunts for possible new ISIS “emir” in Southeast Asia: Reuters

— Taiwan’s military struggles to keep up: NYT

— A Green Beret’s family pushes back against the Army’s suicide ruling: Army Times

— Why the Marines want their own anti-ship missiles: The National Interest

— Inside life on the USS Ashland: CNN

— Details of a 1964 South Dakota nuclear-missile accident are released: Rapid City Journal via the AP

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