Washington, April 29 (PTI): North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile but it failed to go beyond its territory, the US said today, as Pyonyang’s defiant move amid repeated warnings from Washington ratcheted up tensions in the Korean Peninsula.
“The US Pacific Command detected what we assess was a North Korean missile launch at 10:33 AM Hawaii time, April 28.
The ballistic missile launch occurred near the Pukchang airfield,” Dave Benham, United States Pacific Command spokesman, said in a statement.
“The missile did not leave (the) North Korean territory,” Benham said.
Responding to the development, US President Donald Trump slammed North Korea for the provocative move.
“North Korea disrespected the wishes of China and its highly respected President (Xi Jinping) when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad!” Trump said in a tweet last night, hours after North Korea carried out yet another missile test.
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) determined the missile launch from North Korea did not pose a threat to North America, Benham said.
“US Pacific Command stands behind our steadfast commitment to the security of our allies in the Republic of Korea and Japan,” he said.
According to reports, the missile was likely a medium- range KN-17 ballistic missile.
The North Korea missile test came a day after the Trump administration praised China and its President Xi for having prevailed over Pyongyang in not carrying out either a nuclear test or a missile test.
Sending a tough warning to North Korea, the US yesterday said the policy of strategic patience was over and no options were off the table in dealing with the nuclear threat posed by Pyongyang.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at a UN Security Council meeting on North Korea said yesterday that Washington’s goal was “not regime change” in the isolated country nor does it “desire to threaten the North Korean people or destabilise the Asia Pacific region”.
“The policy of strategic patience is over. Additional patience will only mean acceptance of a nuclear North Korea.
The more we bide our time, the sooner we will run out of it,” Tillerson said while chairing the meeting as the President of the Council.
Military options for dealing with the North were still “on the table”, Tillerson had warned.
The US is deploying a naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier to the Korean peninsula, and a missile- defence system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD).
N Korea missile launch ‘absolutely unacceptable’: Abe
London, April 29 (PTI/AFP): Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today called North Korea’s test-fire of a ballistic missile “absolutely unacceptable” and a “grave threat to our country”.
Speaking in London, Abe called upon the international community, in particular China, to “show solidarity” in formulating a response.
“There is a major crisis looming over the peace and prosperity of the world,” he told reporters at the end of a three-day visit to Russia and Britain.
“Despite strong warnings by the international community, North Korea today went through with its ballistic missile launch.
“It is a grave threat to our country, this is absolutely not acceptable, we strongly condemn such acts.
“Our country will be resolute in our response,” he vowed.
North Korea test-fired the missile today in apparent defiance of a concerted US push for tougher international sanctions to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons ambitions.
The latest launch, which South Korea said was a failure, came just hours after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned the UN Security Council of “catastrophic consequences” if the international community -- most notably China -- failed to pressure the North into abandoning its weapons programme.
Abe said G7 leaders meeting in Italy next month, “shoulder a huge responsibility” in responding to the threat.
“The international community must display solidarity,” he said, adding that he had agreed with Russia President Vladimir Putin on Thursday that Russia, China, Japan, US and South Korea all needed to cooperate closely on the issue.
He singled out China as being “extremely important” in resolving the crisis given its UN Security Council role and that it accounts for 90 percent of North Korea’s trade.
“For the denuclearisation of North Korea, I hope China will play a constructive role in the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions. It is my high expectation that China will perform its role properly.”
