The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
America makes show of force as fears build
The North Korean medium-range missile exploded seconds after it was launched yesterday, US officials said.
The high-profile failure came hours before US vice-president Mike Pence arrived in South Korea, and as an American aircraft supercarrier approached 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 Mr Pence, who arrived in Seoul to start a 10-day trip to Asia.
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 the latest test involved a medium-range ballistic missile that failed within 4-5 seconds after launch, and that it did not involve an intercontinental ballistic missile, the adviser said.
The North regularly launches short-range missiles, but is also developing mid-range and longrange 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.
North Korea’s ultimate goal is to have a full array of nuclear-tipped 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.
Washington sees North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles as a threat to world security and to its Asian allies, Japan and South Korea.