N. Korea can’t continue its behaviour: US
washington — An international consensus that includes China has now emerged that North Korea’s “threatening behaviour” cannot go on, the US national security adviser said on Sunday.
Speaking after North Korea’s latest missile test, which US officials called a failure, H.R. McMaster said: “I think there’s an international consensus now — including the Chinese and the Chinese leadership — that this is a situation that just can’t continue.”
Amid tension over North Korea’s nuclear programme, McMaster said the US and allies were studying all actions “short of a military option”. —
seoul — A North Korean mediumrange missile exploded seconds after it was launched on Sunday, US officials said, a high-profile failure that came hours before the US vice-president arrived in South Korea, and as an American aircraft supercarrier approaches the Korean Peninsula in a show of force.
The US had good intelligence both before and after the launch, said a White House foreign policy adviser travelling with Vice-President Mike Pence, who arrived in Seoul in the afternoon to start a 10day trip to Asia.
No planned response is expected from the Trump administration because the official said there was no need for the US to reinforce the failure. The official said that had it been a nuclear test, “other actions would have been taken by the US”.
North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, including two last year. Recent satellite imagery suggests the country could conduct another underground nuclear test at any time.
The White House believes that Sunday’s test involved a mediumrange ballistic missile that failed within 4-5 seconds after launch, and that it did not involve an intercontinental ballistic missile, the foreign policy adviser said.
The North regularly launches short-range missiles, but is also developing mid-range and long-range missiles meant to target US troops in Asia and, eventually, the US mainland. The failed launch will sting in Pyongyang because it came a day after one of the biggest North Korean propaganda events of the year— celebrations of the 105th birthday of late North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, the current leader’s grandfather.
President Donald Trump was uncharacteristically quiet about the failed launch, which was attempted from the east coast city of Sinpo. In a statement, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Trump and his military team “are aware of North Korea’s most recent unsuccessful missile launch. The president has no further comment”.
Pence said North Korea’s “provocation” was another reminder of the risks that US and South Korean service members face every day “in the defence of the freedom of the people of South Korea and the defence of America in this part of the world”.
The vice-president said at a fellowship dinner at US army garrison Yongsan in Seoul that the willingness of military members “to stand firm without fear inspires the nation and inspires the world”.
North Korea’s ultimate goal is to have a full array of nuclear-tipped
north Korea’s provocation was another reminder of the risks that US and South Korean service members face every day in the defence of ... people of South Korea and ... america in this part of the world Mike Pence, US Vice-President
missiles in response to what Pyongyang says is hostility by Washington and Seoul meant to topple its government. North Korea is thought to have a small arsenal of atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles.
Many outside analysts believe that North Korea has not yet mastered the technology to build warheads small enough to place on long-range missiles, though some civilian experts say it can already build nucleartipped shorter range missiles that have South Korea and Japan within its striking range. —