Britain's RAF will not take part in US military strike on North Korea

The United States has submitted a formal request for the British Royal Air Force (RAF) to join an intelligence-gathering operation against North Korea. The US has requested that the RAF join their multinational operation to pinpoint nuclear sites and artillery batteries within North Korea. American military command hopes that better intelligence and surveillance of North Korea’s nuclear and conventional forces would allow them to conduct more accurate operations in the event of war with North Korea. The British House of Commons must still acquiesce to the request. If it does so, at least one of Britain’s three Rivet Joint spy planes could be dispatched to Japan within two weeks. The £800 million aircraft would tap into North Korean communications, and an RAF crew would be joined by Korean-speaking American personnel. The Mirror quoted an unnamed source saying that: “Although a conflict between North Korea and America and their allies is unthinkable, everything that can be done is being done to prepare for that if it happens.” “Western war planners are keen to minimise the death toll and that means a massive stepping-up of intelligence gathering against North Korea.” The source added: “Nato needs to stand behind the US as this situation could impact everyone.” It was also reported by the Mirror that Britain does not expect to be playing an active military role in possible strikes on North Korea. It also quoted a senior government source as saying: “The Americans are more than capable of doing what they might want, or have to do, in the region without our help.” The American request comes amidst increased tensions over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme, and increasingly high octane war of words between Pyongyang and US President Donald Trump. On Tuesday, Trump promised to unleash “fire and fury” on North Korea if it was to launch an attack on the US or its allies. On Thursday, North Korean state media KCNA said that a plan was being worked on for a missile strike into the sea off the US’ Pacific island of Guam. Britain is one of the US’ closest allies. While the UK has played a leading role in American interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya in recent years, it refused to be drawn into Vietnam in the 1960s, to US' displeasure.