Trump weighs severe response to N Korea over its missile test
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was considering a “pretty severe” response to North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile test, even as China appealed for a scaling down of rhetoric.
In a further sign of divisions after Tuesday’s launch -- a milestone in Pyongyang’s drive to threaten the US mainland with a nuclear strike -- Russia blocked a UN Security Council statement calling for fresh sanctions.
The US had led the push for tougher sanctions, and Trump has also warned he is ready to use force if necessary.
“I call on all nations to confront this global threat and publicly demonstrate to North Korea that there are consequences for their very, very bad behaviour,” Trump said during a visit to Warsaw. “I have pretty severe things that we’re thinking about,” Trump said, adding: “That doesn’t mean that we’ll do them.”
The US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told a meeting of the UN security council that North Korea’s actions were “quickly closing off the possibility of a diplomatic solution” and the US was prepared to defend itself and its allies. “One of our capabilities lies with our considerable military forces. We will use them if we must, but we prefer not to have to go in that direction,” Haley said. She urged China, North Korea’s only major ally, to do more to rein in Pyongyang. Changing the mindset of North Korea’s ruler Kim Jong-un needs concerted efforts by all international players, including India, said Enna Park, South Korea’s ambassador for public diplomacy.
North Korea’s maverick ruler, Kim Jong-un, she said, was more dangerous than his father. The latter was prepared to negotiate about the end of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. But the son wants his country to be “recognised as a nuclear weapons state” and that denuclearisation is not negotiable. Kim wants to use his ability to threaten the US and the region to get leverage with Washington. HTC & AGENCIES