(Jung Yeon-Je/AP)Over the past seven decades, North Korea has amassed a huge number of artillery pieces along its border with South Korea. The South Korean capital is one of the largest cities in the world, with a population of 25 million. Robert E. Kelly, an expert on North Korea at Pusan National University in South Korea, said it was not clear what options Mattis was referring to. Jackson said there are “a couple of military options [against North Korea] that wouldn't necessitate retaliation against Seoul,” such as a limited strike or covert operation. “It has to have an accompanying media blackout — we can't take ownership of it.”Mattis is in South Korea as part of a week-long Asia trip.

Source: Washington Post October 28, 2017 06:45 UTC