Larry Wilkerson, chief of staff to former Secretary of State Colin Powell and retired U.S. Army colonel, has a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to foreign affairs. Currently, tension with North Korea seems to be at the forefront of most Americans’ minds, but Wilkerson believes that North Korea is “not an existential threat.”

In an interview with The Real News Network’s Paul Jay, Wilkerson explains why he thinks a diplomatic solution between the U.S. and North Korea is possible, but cautions that the U.S. may be avoiding such a strategy.

“I think there is an element in the Congress and an element in the country, a very wealthy element, that sees war to its benefit and needs these threats and so is not about to let these threats go away,” he tells Jay. “If we wanted to do something today that would be meaningful, not beating our chests like Donald Trump likes to do, but doing something that would be meaningful, we would start talks with North Korea and we’d get back on the same track we were on in ’94 and ’95, where we would offer things to them in exchange for things from them.”

Watch the full interview, which also includes questions from viewers, in the video above.

–Posted by Emma Niles.

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#donald trump#foreign policy#international relations#japan#kim jong un#military#national#north korea#nuclear arms#nuclear war#politics#pyongyang#south korea#usa