Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GONE BALLISTIC
Biden warns North Korea on weapons programme after latest missile tests
JOE Biden last night warned North Korea that the US will “respond” if it steps up its weapons programme following its latest missile tests.
He stressed Kim Jong-un’s regime had broken a UN resolution and any peace deal would depend on Pyongyang agreeing to “denuclearisation”.
Asked what was his “red line” on North Korea, the US president said: “Number one, the UN resolution was violated by those missiles.
“There will be responses if they choose to escalate. But I am also prepared for some form of diplomacy – but that will depend on denuclearisation.”
Pyongyang launched two suspected ballistic missiles, the first in nearly a year, into the sea near Japan yesterday, ramping up tensions in the region. Analysts said the tests raise fears Pyongyang’s arsenal is advancing, posing fresh threats to the West.
It also comes as tensions are soaring between China and America.
Mr Biden is believed to be braced to take a hard line against Pyongyang.
Markus Garlauskas, a former US National Intelligence Officer, warned: “Downplaying ballistic missile tests would only encourage North Korea to further test the bounds of what the new administration can accept.”
The first missile was detected soon after 7am and flew about 260 miles followed by a second minutes later.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said: “The first launch in just less than a year represents a threat to peace and stability in Japan and the region
and violates UN resolutions.”