Missile test challenges US- China cooperation

WASHINGTON — North Korea’s launch of a longerrange missile shows advances in its technological capabilities and offers the sternest test yet of President Donald Trump’s strategy to work with China to combat the threat.

Will China fully enforce global sanctions on North Korea and back tough new penalties? If not, will Trump accept the growing calls from Congress to start targeting Chinese companies that help Pyongyang access international markets, even if that puts U.S.-China ties under new strain?

The U.N. Security Council is set to discuss North Korea’s latest provocation today. U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley raised the possibility of a new set of global economic restrictions for the North, including on oil imports. France and Britain on Monday both publicly supported tougher sanctions.

China is feeling increasingly alienated from its wayward North Korean ally, and Sunday’s headline-grabbing missile launch won’t have helped matters. It came as Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted 30 world leaders for talks on trade and infrastructure. The test also immediately closed the space for maneuvering for U.S.-allied South Korea’s new president, who favors engaging North Korea.

But Trump and Xi may have the most at stake. Beijing is wary of piling on economic pressure that could cause North Korea’s collapse, and it wasn’t clear Monday if it would support new sanctions. Opposing the North’s test, China’s Foreign Ministry called on all sides to exercise restraint.

The missile Sunday flew higher and for a longer period than previous missiles.

U.S. experts said think the missile could have a range of about 2,800 miles, putting the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam easily within range.

“We are calling on all those folks in the region, particularly China and Russia, to do everything they can in terms of sanctions to help resolve this situation and bring stability to the peninsula,” White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters Monday.