A new poll shows more Americans support troops on the ground in South Korea if North Korea attacks. Three-quarters believe North Korea's nuclear program is a critical threat to the U.S.
According to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, 62% of Americans favor the use of U.S. troops if North Korea invaded its southern neighbor.
At least one Korean War veteran from Houston disagrees.
“South Koreans have developed their own defenses pretty well, so I don't think we need to add to that,” says Bob Bighouse, treasurer of the Korean War Veterans Texas Lone Star Chapter.
Having served as an Army captain in Korea between 1951 and 1952, Bighouse believes in taking a more diplomatic approach.
“I think we need to support them and what they do, and try to work through them,” he says of South Korea. “Also the Chinese, they have some influence over the North Koreans.”
Bighouse says he doesn't want to see the U.S. fall into the same trap it did 60 years ago.
“If we kept trying to force our solutions on the North Koreans, then the Chinese and Russians would step in, and then we'd be in a bigger mess than we are with the North Koreans,” he says.