US behind Japan ‘100%’ after N. Korea launch

PALM BEACH: US President Donald Trump said yesterday the United States stands fully behind Japan in the aftermath of North Korea’s latest missile launch.

‘‘I just want everybody to understand, and fully know, that the United States of America is behind Japan, our great ally, 100%,’’ Trump told reporters during a joint statement with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The US detected a North Korean testlaunch of either a medium or intermediaterange ballistic missile, the US military’s Strategic Command said yesterday, adding the missile did not pose a threat to North America.

‘‘US Strategic Command systems detected and tracked what we assess was a North Korean missile launch at 4.55pm CST,’’ spokesman Lieutenantcolonel Martin O’Donnell said.

‘‘The launch of a medium or intermediaterange ballistic missile occurred near the northwestern city of Kusong.’’

Strategic Command said it tracked the missile over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan. It did not state whether the launch was deemed a success or failure.

It added that US military forces would ‘‘remain vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and are fully committed to working closely with our Republic of Korea and Japanese allies to maintain security.’’

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Trump administration had been expecting a North Korean ‘‘provocation’’ and would consider a full range of options in a response to Pyongyang’s missile test, but calibrated to show US resolve while avoiding escalation.

The new administration was also likely to step up pressure on China to rein in North Korea, reflecting Trump’s previously stated view that Beijing had not done enough on this front, the official said. —