North Korea test fired what appeared to be another intercontinental ballistic missile Friday, just hours after the US and Japan moved to step up sanctions against Pyongyang following its first ICBM test earlier this month.
South Korean, US and Japanese monitors all detected the unusual late-night test, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saying the missile may have landed within Japan’s maritime exclusive economic zone.
“We assess that this missile was an intercontinental ballistic missile,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said, adding that the rocket travelled about 1,000 kilometers before splashing down in the Sea of Japan.
The launch came a day after North Korea celebrated what it calls “Victory Day” — the anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. Pyongyang regularly times its missile tests to coincide with symbolic dates.
Condemnation was swift with Japan’s top government spokesman, calling Friday’s test another clear violation of UN resolutions.
“Our country will never tolerate it and made a severe protest to North Korea, condemning it in the strongest words,” Suga said.
In Seoul and Tokyo, the governments convened meetings of their national security councils.
Further sanctions
US military and South Korean intelligence officials had in recent days warned that North Korea appeared to be prepping for another missile test.
The ICBM test on July 4 had triggered global alarm, with experts saying the missile had a theoretical range that could reach Alaska.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, who personally oversaw that launch on America’s Independence Day, described it as a gift to the “American bastards.”
It sent tensions soaring in the region, pitting Washington, Tokyo and Seoul against China, Pyongyang’s last remaining major ally.
The United States instigated a push at the United Nations for tougher measures against Pyongyang, with US President Donald Trump saying he was considering a “pretty severe” response.
Joel Wit, a senior fellow at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University and an expert on the North’s nuclear weapons programme, said Friday’s launch confirmed time was running out for Washington to find a way out of a pressing security crisis.
“Another North Korean test of what appears to be a missile that can reach the United States further emphasises the need for the Trump administration to focus like a laser on this increasingly dangerous situation,” Wit said on the institute’s 38 North website.
Friday’s launch came just hours after the US Senate passed bipartisan sanctions on Pyongyang, and Japan slapped its own sanctions on two Chinese firms, including a bank accused of laundering North Korean cash.
North Korea’s accelerated drive towards a credible nuclear strike capability poses a thorny policy challenge for Trump, who is at loggerheads with Beijing over how to handle Kim Jong-Un’s regime.
Trump has repeatedly urged Pyongyang’s chief backer Beijing to rein the Stalinist state in, but Beijing insists dialogue is the only practical way forward.
There are still doubts about whether the North can miniaturise a nuclear weapon to fit a missile nose cone, or if it has mastered the technology needed for it to survive re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
But since Kim came to power there have been advances including three nuclear tests and multiple rocket launches.
‘Frustrating’
Reacting to Friday’s launch, UN spokesman Farhad Haq said it was “frustrating” that the Secretary General’s calls for all sides to de-escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula had gone unheeded.
In an apparent reference to China, Haq said it was important for all parties to “use their particular influence to help resolve this.”
In all, six sets of UN sanctions have been imposed on North Korea since it first tested an atomic device in 2006, but two resolutions adopted last year significantly toughened the sanctions regime.
Meanwhile, the US military is preparing to conduct another test of a missile-intercept system in Alaska, perhaps as soon as Saturday.
That test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system had been scheduled before Friday’s developments.
The United States has layers of missile defense capabilities comprising several components designed to take down different types of missile at different phases of flight.
Agence France-Presse
If North Korea was treated like any other country, and its rights to efficient defensive means respected, there would be no crisis whatsoever. What right has the UN to forbid North Korea, and only North Korea, having the same weapons and means of delivery which the US possesses?
I agree with you, Da Silva. The Koreans have the right to develop and test weapons to defend themselves and their country against the American invaders and murderers. Korea is one country like Vietnam is one country. The USA invaded Korea in 1950, massacred millions of Koreans and is still occupying part of Korea with 30,000 soldiers. The Americans are the aggressors, the invaders and the murderers. The Koreans are merely defending themselves and their country against the American invaders and murderers. To defend oneself against attacks is the most basic right of a human being. It is therefore a shame and a violation of the right of the Koreans when the UNSC sanctions the Koreans when the Koreans develop weapons to defend themselves against the American invaders and murderers.
It was america who drop nuclearbomb on japan and killed thusend of inocent people .every country have right to make and test weapon for own defance .america have thousend of neuclear bomb nd measile but imposd sanction on other .north korea have a right to defend himself .
Michael Chan you are absolutly right..! Definitly it is the right of the Koreans to defend them selves against the Evil Americans..! If Koreans are doing wrong by producing better defence system to defent their country then America is also doing wrong, modernising their defence and offence system. It is not Koreans who wage wars on the others… Its the American Evils…
north korea thanks new missile launch ok
Think what you all said. Corea is traying to star a war they sending missiles to Japan sea that’s very bad if it war starts. We all will pay the price.!! past y past they must need to forget if all want to live.
If there are treaties regulating nuclear weapons which Korea has signed then they have no right deloping and testing what is banned. Yes the world order is pampering North korea too much. I am not sure any country is planning to attack them except that they will continue with the threat. UN must wake up before some few countries distroy the world. We don’t want to witness 3rd world war which will be disastrous if allowed to happen. All the world must come together against those who are threat to humanity.
the USA and israel are the real threat to the whole world.