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DPRK fires ballistic missile into eastern waters
Xinhua | Updated: 2017-04-05 10:23
SEOUL - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday test-fired one ballistic missile into eastern waters, South Korea's defense ministry said.
A Seoul ministry official told Xinhua that the ballistic missile was fired at about 6:42 am local time from Sinpo in North Hamgyeong province, in northeastern DPRK. The missile flew about 60 km into its eastern waters.
It was not known what type of missile it was as the military authorities of South Korea and the United States are still analyzing the firing.
According to Yonhap news agency report, it was not an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or a submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
On March 22, Pyongyang test-launched what was presumed to be a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile from its eastern region, but it failed as it exploded in midair.
On Feb 12, the DPRK successfully test-fired a new type of intermediate-range ballistic missile, called Pukguksong-2.
The test-firing came as combined forces of South Korea and the United States are conducting joint annual spring war games, codenamed Key Resolve and Foal Eagle that are scheduled to end by the end of this month.
A variety of U.S. strategic weapons were mobilized to the war games, including a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, a nuclear-powered submarine and nuclear-capable bombers.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2017-04/05/content_28798415.htm
Xinhua | Updated: 2017-04-05 10:23
SEOUL - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday test-fired one ballistic missile into eastern waters, South Korea's defense ministry said.
A Seoul ministry official told Xinhua that the ballistic missile was fired at about 6:42 am local time from Sinpo in North Hamgyeong province, in northeastern DPRK. The missile flew about 60 km into its eastern waters.
It was not known what type of missile it was as the military authorities of South Korea and the United States are still analyzing the firing.
According to Yonhap news agency report, it was not an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or a submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
On March 22, Pyongyang test-launched what was presumed to be a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile from its eastern region, but it failed as it exploded in midair.
On Feb 12, the DPRK successfully test-fired a new type of intermediate-range ballistic missile, called Pukguksong-2.
The test-firing came as combined forces of South Korea and the United States are conducting joint annual spring war games, codenamed Key Resolve and Foal Eagle that are scheduled to end by the end of this month.
A variety of U.S. strategic weapons were mobilized to the war games, including a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, a nuclear-powered submarine and nuclear-capable bombers.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2017-04/05/content_28798415.htm
Hindustani78
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http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...-japan-us-warns-pyongyang/article17821398.ece
The missile launch comes ahead of the crucial meeting between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Florida
The US on Wednesday said that it is considering all options to tackle the threat posed by North Korea’s repeated nuclear arms tests, hours after Pyongyang fired another ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan.
Confirming the missile launch, the US Pacific Command said that its systems “detected and tracked” what it assessed was a North Korean missile launch at 11:42 AM (Hawaii time) on April 4.
“The launch of a single ballistic missile occurred at a land-based facility near Sinpo,” the Command said in a statement.
The missile was tracked until it landed in the Sea of Japan at 11:51 AM (Hawaii time).
“Initial assessments indicate the type of missile was a KN-15 medium range ballistic missile,” it said.
“North Korea launched yet another intermediate range ballistic missile. The United States has spoken enough about North Korea. We have no further comment,” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement.
The missile launch comes ahead of the crucial meeting between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Florida on Tuesday during which the two leaders are expected to discuss a range of global issues, including North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.
The White House reacted strongly to the launch and said that the clock is ticking for Pyongyang.
“I can tell you that it is now urgent, because we feel that the clock is very, very quickly running out,” a senior White House official told reporters at a news conference.
“We would have loved to see North Korea join the community of nations. They’ve been given that opportunity over the course of different dialogues and offers over the course of four administrations, with some of our best diplomats and statesmen doing the best they could to bring about a resolution. “The clock has now run out and all options are on the table for us,” the official said.
The testing of nuclear weapons by North Korea is expected to figure prominently in talks between the Trump and Jinping during their meeting, the official said on condition of anonymity.
“North Korea clearly is a matter of urgent interest for the president and the administration as a whole. The president has been pretty clear in messaging how important it is for China to coordinate with the United States, and for China to begin exerting its considerable economic leverage to bring about a peaceful resolution to that problem.”
“It is going to come up in their discussions. Somewhere on the order of just shy of 90 per cent of North Korea’s external trade is with China. So, even though we hear sometimes that China’s political influence may have diminished with North Korea, clearly its economic leverage has not. It is considerable,” the official said.
The US will be monitoring how well partners, including China, implement the UN resolutions with regard to North Korea.
“Coal is one very important area, given the volume of trade and what that means in terms of hard currency to the North Korean regime. And certainly we’ll use whatever methods we have to monitor compliance,” the official said.
The US will always act to defend its homeland and allies from any threat, particularly the one posed by Kim Jong Un’s regime with the kinds of terrible weapons that they’re developing.
The missile launch comes ahead of the crucial meeting between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Florida
The US on Wednesday said that it is considering all options to tackle the threat posed by North Korea’s repeated nuclear arms tests, hours after Pyongyang fired another ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan.
Confirming the missile launch, the US Pacific Command said that its systems “detected and tracked” what it assessed was a North Korean missile launch at 11:42 AM (Hawaii time) on April 4.
“The launch of a single ballistic missile occurred at a land-based facility near Sinpo,” the Command said in a statement.
The missile was tracked until it landed in the Sea of Japan at 11:51 AM (Hawaii time).
“Initial assessments indicate the type of missile was a KN-15 medium range ballistic missile,” it said.
“North Korea launched yet another intermediate range ballistic missile. The United States has spoken enough about North Korea. We have no further comment,” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement.
The missile launch comes ahead of the crucial meeting between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Florida on Tuesday during which the two leaders are expected to discuss a range of global issues, including North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.
The White House reacted strongly to the launch and said that the clock is ticking for Pyongyang.
“I can tell you that it is now urgent, because we feel that the clock is very, very quickly running out,” a senior White House official told reporters at a news conference.
“We would have loved to see North Korea join the community of nations. They’ve been given that opportunity over the course of different dialogues and offers over the course of four administrations, with some of our best diplomats and statesmen doing the best they could to bring about a resolution. “The clock has now run out and all options are on the table for us,” the official said.
The testing of nuclear weapons by North Korea is expected to figure prominently in talks between the Trump and Jinping during their meeting, the official said on condition of anonymity.
“North Korea clearly is a matter of urgent interest for the president and the administration as a whole. The president has been pretty clear in messaging how important it is for China to coordinate with the United States, and for China to begin exerting its considerable economic leverage to bring about a peaceful resolution to that problem.”
“It is going to come up in their discussions. Somewhere on the order of just shy of 90 per cent of North Korea’s external trade is with China. So, even though we hear sometimes that China’s political influence may have diminished with North Korea, clearly its economic leverage has not. It is considerable,” the official said.
The US will be monitoring how well partners, including China, implement the UN resolutions with regard to North Korea.
“Coal is one very important area, given the volume of trade and what that means in terms of hard currency to the North Korean regime. And certainly we’ll use whatever methods we have to monitor compliance,” the official said.
The US will always act to defend its homeland and allies from any threat, particularly the one posed by Kim Jong Un’s regime with the kinds of terrible weapons that they’re developing.
Hindustani78
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North Korea's latest missile test threatens security in the Russian Far East, leading the Russian Aerospace Forces units to raise its combat readiness alert, Russian senator Victor Ozerov told Sputnik on Wednesday.
https://sputniknews.com/military/201704051052305864-north-korea-russia-alert/
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — North Korea reportedly launched a ballistic missile from Sinpho, South Hamgyong province, toward the Sea of Japan earlier in the day. The medium-range ballistic missile of the Pukykson-2 type, as claimed by the South Korean military, flew 37 miles and reached an altitude of 117 miles.
"Units of the Russian Aerospace Forces are on hair-trigger alert. There is a threat in our Far East because there may be errors during the launch and we should be more careful in our airspace," Ozerov, chair of the defense committee, said.
Russia cannot exert influence on North Korea over its nuclear program as long as the United States holds military drills and deploys its missile defense system in the region, the Russian senator added.
"We are ready to use our influence with North Korea at negotiations. But when there is constant pressure on Pyongyang from the US, which conducts exercises along the North Korean borders with South Korea, when the US develops the new missile defense system in the region, it is difficult for Russia to talk with Pyongyang in these conditions," Ozerov said.
https://sputniknews.com/military/201704051052305864-north-korea-russia-alert/
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — North Korea reportedly launched a ballistic missile from Sinpho, South Hamgyong province, toward the Sea of Japan earlier in the day. The medium-range ballistic missile of the Pukykson-2 type, as claimed by the South Korean military, flew 37 miles and reached an altitude of 117 miles.
"Units of the Russian Aerospace Forces are on hair-trigger alert. There is a threat in our Far East because there may be errors during the launch and we should be more careful in our airspace," Ozerov, chair of the defense committee, said.
Russia cannot exert influence on North Korea over its nuclear program as long as the United States holds military drills and deploys its missile defense system in the region, the Russian senator added.
"We are ready to use our influence with North Korea at negotiations. But when there is constant pressure on Pyongyang from the US, which conducts exercises along the North Korean borders with South Korea, when the US develops the new missile defense system in the region, it is difficult for Russia to talk with Pyongyang in these conditions," Ozerov said.
Shotgunner51
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North Korea fires a ballistic missile as Trump prepares to host China’s Xi
North Korea launched a fourth missile test of the year on April 5, all believed to be in pursuit of crafting an intercontinental ballistic missile that can hit the United States. (Reuters)
By Anna Fifield April 4 at 9:44 PM
SEOUL — North Korea fired another ballistic missile Wednesday morning, apparently testing a land-based version of its missile that can be fired from a submarine, in a development that nonproliferation experts called “scary.”
The launch comes shortly after Pyongyang said it planned to mark two key anniversaries this month as “big” political events, and a day before President Trump meets with visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping — with North Korea at the top of the agenda.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson issued a terse statement after the launch.
South Korean and U.S. military officials said the medium-range missile was fired from a land base near the east coast port of Sinpo, home to a known North Korean submarine base.
In August, North Korea made a major technological breakthrough by launching a ballistic missile from a submarine near Sinpo. It flew about 300 miles before falling into the sea inside Japan’s air defense identification zone, the area in which Tokyo controls aircraft movement. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un boasted about the launch, describing it as “the greatest success.”
That missile was a KN-11, which North Korea calls the Pukkuksong-1 or Polaris-1. Wednesday’s missile appeared to be a KN-15, according to the U.S. Pacific Command, based in Hawaii. This is a land-based version of the medium-range submarine-launched ballistic missile.
But Wednesday’s missile did not appear to fly very far, only about 40 miles, after being launched at 6:40 a.m. Seoul time, South Korean military officials said.
The U.S. Pacific Command said the missile “did not pose a threat to North America.”
What made the launch “scary,” according to Melissa Hanham of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in California, was that the missile appeared to have been powered by solid fuel.
Furthermore, the test suggests that North Korea is looking for ways to launch its medium-range missiles more easily and cheaply.
North Korea’s launches of a steady stream of medium-range missiles are seen as part of a broader intercontinental ballistic missile program, as they could form the stages of a three-stage longer-range weapon.
Kim has signaled that his regime is working on a missile capable of reaching the United States. He said in his New Year’s Day address that North Korea has “entered the final stage of preparation for a test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.”
After Kim’s statement, Trump tweeted, “It won’t happen!”
More recently, Trump has warned that the United States will take unilateral action to eliminate the nuclear threat from North Korea unless China increases pressure on Kim’s regime.
Trump will host Xi for two days of talks, starting Thursday, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
This summit, coinciding with a tense situation on the Korean Peninsula, has led to speculation of imminent provocations from North Korea.
Satellite images taken over the past 10 days have shown a prolonged and heightened level of activity at North Korea’s underground testing site, sparking speculation about whether a sixth nuclear test is planned.
Plus, North Korea has resumed last year’s steady firing of missiles from sites on both the east and west coasts. The last one, on March 22, exploded shortly after launch.
Nonproliferation experts say it is clear that North Korea is determined to make progress on its missile program — and presumably on its goal to attach a nuclear warhead to a missile capable of reaching the mainland United States.
Compounding matters, April is an important month on the North Korean calendar, and the regime likes to mark important dates with fireworks — both with firework displays in the center of Pyongyang and with missile flares. The regime celebrates the 105th birthday of the late founding president Kim Il Sung on April 15 and the 85th anniversary of the foundation of the Korean People’s Army 10 days later.
These events coincide with annual drills by the South Korean and U.S. militaries, practicing for a sudden change on the northern half of the peninsula. With American aircraft carriers and fighter jets brought to South Korea for the exercises, North Korea views them as a pretext for an invasion and always protests vociferously.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...83fa36-1988-11e7-8003-f55b4c1cfae2_story.html
North Korea launched a fourth missile test of the year on April 5, all believed to be in pursuit of crafting an intercontinental ballistic missile that can hit the United States. (Reuters)
By Anna Fifield April 4 at 9:44 PM
SEOUL — North Korea fired another ballistic missile Wednesday morning, apparently testing a land-based version of its missile that can be fired from a submarine, in a development that nonproliferation experts called “scary.”
The launch comes shortly after Pyongyang said it planned to mark two key anniversaries this month as “big” political events, and a day before President Trump meets with visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping — with North Korea at the top of the agenda.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson issued a terse statement after the launch.
“North Korea launched yet another intermediate range ballistic missile,” he said. “The United States has spoken enough about North Korea. We have no further comment.”
South Korean and U.S. military officials said the medium-range missile was fired from a land base near the east coast port of Sinpo, home to a known North Korean submarine base.
In August, North Korea made a major technological breakthrough by launching a ballistic missile from a submarine near Sinpo. It flew about 300 miles before falling into the sea inside Japan’s air defense identification zone, the area in which Tokyo controls aircraft movement. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un boasted about the launch, describing it as “the greatest success.”
That missile was a KN-11, which North Korea calls the Pukkuksong-1 or Polaris-1. Wednesday’s missile appeared to be a KN-15, according to the U.S. Pacific Command, based in Hawaii. This is a land-based version of the medium-range submarine-launched ballistic missile.
But Wednesday’s missile did not appear to fly very far, only about 40 miles, after being launched at 6:40 a.m. Seoul time, South Korean military officials said.
The U.S. Pacific Command said the missile “did not pose a threat to North America.”
What made the launch “scary,” according to Melissa Hanham of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in California, was that the missile appeared to have been powered by solid fuel.
“Solid fuel is very significant because they can launch these missiles much faster and with a smaller entourage than with liquid-fueled missiles, making them much harder for the United States, South Korea and Japan to spot from satellites,” she said.
Furthermore, the test suggests that North Korea is looking for ways to launch its medium-range missiles more easily and cheaply.
“They’ve essentially taken their submarine-launched missile and turned it into a land-based one,” Hanham said. Instead of being launched from a submarine, these missiles can be launched from trucks, which North Korea is able to produce.
North Korea’s launches of a steady stream of medium-range missiles are seen as part of a broader intercontinental ballistic missile program, as they could form the stages of a three-stage longer-range weapon.
Kim has signaled that his regime is working on a missile capable of reaching the United States. He said in his New Year’s Day address that North Korea has “entered the final stage of preparation for a test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.”
After Kim’s statement, Trump tweeted, “It won’t happen!”
More recently, Trump has warned that the United States will take unilateral action to eliminate the nuclear threat from North Korea unless China increases pressure on Kim’s regime.
Trump will host Xi for two days of talks, starting Thursday, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
“China has great influence over North Korea. And China will either decide to help us with North Korea, or they won’t,” Trump said in an interview with the Financial Times published Monday.
This summit, coinciding with a tense situation on the Korean Peninsula, has led to speculation of imminent provocations from North Korea.
Satellite images taken over the past 10 days have shown a prolonged and heightened level of activity at North Korea’s underground testing site, sparking speculation about whether a sixth nuclear test is planned.
Plus, North Korea has resumed last year’s steady firing of missiles from sites on both the east and west coasts. The last one, on March 22, exploded shortly after launch.
Nonproliferation experts say it is clear that North Korea is determined to make progress on its missile program — and presumably on its goal to attach a nuclear warhead to a missile capable of reaching the mainland United States.
Compounding matters, April is an important month on the North Korean calendar, and the regime likes to mark important dates with fireworks — both with firework displays in the center of Pyongyang and with missile flares. The regime celebrates the 105th birthday of the late founding president Kim Il Sung on April 15 and the 85th anniversary of the foundation of the Korean People’s Army 10 days later.
These events coincide with annual drills by the South Korean and U.S. militaries, practicing for a sudden change on the northern half of the peninsula. With American aircraft carriers and fighter jets brought to South Korea for the exercises, North Korea views them as a pretext for an invasion and always protests vociferously.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...83fa36-1988-11e7-8003-f55b4c1cfae2_story.html
Last edited:
ahojunk
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Fat Kim is unnecessarily provocative. He is just asking for trouble.
I hope President Xi and Trump can come to an agreement to deal with him.
========
Reuters | Tue Apr 4, 2017 | 6:03pm EDT
Any check on North Korea has to involve China: U.S. general
U.S. Air Force General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, testifies in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 4, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
Any effort to curb North Korea's weapons program will need to involve China, a senior U.S. military official said on Tuesday, just days after President Donald Trump said Washington might deal with Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs on its own if need be.
On Sunday, Trump said in an interview with the Financial Times, that China has great influence over North Korea and that "China will either decide to help us with North Korea, or they won’t. And if they do that will be very good for China, and if they don’t, it won’t be good for anyone."
Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are meeting in Florida on Thursday and Friday.
On Tuesday, General John Hyten, the head of U.S. Strategic Command, said it was difficult to see a solution to North Korea that did not involve China.
"Any solution to the North Korean problem has to involve China," Hyten said at a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.
"I am a military officer, my job is to provide military options to the president ... but I look at it from a strategic perspective and I can't see a solution that doesn't involve China," Hyten said.
It is not clear whether Trump's comments will move China, which has taken steps to increase economic pressure on Pyongyang but has long been unwilling to do anything that may destabilize the North and send millions of refugees across the border into China.
It is also unclear what the United States might do on its own to deflect North Korea from the expansion of its nuclear capabilities and from the development of missiles with ever-longer ranges and the capacity to deliver atomic warheads.
North Korea has been testing rocket engines and heat-shields for an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) while developing technology to guide a missile after re-entry into the atmosphere following a liftoff.
Once fully developed, a North Korean ICBM could threaten the continental United States.
The reclusive state has conducted five nuclear tests and a series of missile launches in defiance of United Nations resolutions.
Trump's national security aides have completed a review of U.S. options to try to curb North Korea's nuclear and missile programs that includes economic and military measures but leans more toward sanctions and increased pressure on Beijing to rein in its reclusive neighbor.
(Reporting by Idrees Ali)
I hope President Xi and Trump can come to an agreement to deal with him.
========
Reuters | Tue Apr 4, 2017 | 6:03pm EDT
Any check on North Korea has to involve China: U.S. general
U.S. Air Force General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, testifies in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 4, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
Any effort to curb North Korea's weapons program will need to involve China, a senior U.S. military official said on Tuesday, just days after President Donald Trump said Washington might deal with Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs on its own if need be.
On Sunday, Trump said in an interview with the Financial Times, that China has great influence over North Korea and that "China will either decide to help us with North Korea, or they won’t. And if they do that will be very good for China, and if they don’t, it won’t be good for anyone."
Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are meeting in Florida on Thursday and Friday.
On Tuesday, General John Hyten, the head of U.S. Strategic Command, said it was difficult to see a solution to North Korea that did not involve China.
"Any solution to the North Korean problem has to involve China," Hyten said at a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.
"I am a military officer, my job is to provide military options to the president ... but I look at it from a strategic perspective and I can't see a solution that doesn't involve China," Hyten said.
It is not clear whether Trump's comments will move China, which has taken steps to increase economic pressure on Pyongyang but has long been unwilling to do anything that may destabilize the North and send millions of refugees across the border into China.
It is also unclear what the United States might do on its own to deflect North Korea from the expansion of its nuclear capabilities and from the development of missiles with ever-longer ranges and the capacity to deliver atomic warheads.
North Korea has been testing rocket engines and heat-shields for an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) while developing technology to guide a missile after re-entry into the atmosphere following a liftoff.
Once fully developed, a North Korean ICBM could threaten the continental United States.
The reclusive state has conducted five nuclear tests and a series of missile launches in defiance of United Nations resolutions.
Trump's national security aides have completed a review of U.S. options to try to curb North Korea's nuclear and missile programs that includes economic and military measures but leans more toward sanctions and increased pressure on Beijing to rein in its reclusive neighbor.
(Reporting by Idrees Ali)
TaiShang
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Which means no unilateral action in the absence or opposition of China. This is a rational approach, however, Mad Trump is capable of doing crazy things.
hoangsa74
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trump already flat out declared that if china did not want to deal with north korea, the usa will STRIKE this time.
trump wants to make history and the republican party has had a policy of waging war. trump's advisor Stephen bannon publicly stated that the usa would go to war with china within 10 years; going to war with north korea is just a walk to the park.
trump wants to make history and the republican party has had a policy of waging war. trump's advisor Stephen bannon publicly stated that the usa would go to war with china within 10 years; going to war with north korea is just a walk to the park.
terranMarine
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You mean this dude ?
Steve Bannon loses National Security Council seat
5 April 2017
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39508351
ahojunk
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WORLD NEWS | Thu Apr 6, 2017 | 3:20am EDT
Little progress reining in North Korea, U.S. commander says before Trump-Xi summit
North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un guides the Korean People's Army Tank Crews' Competition 2017 in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on April 1, 2017. KCNA/via REUTERS
By Tim Kelly and Ju-min Park | TOKYO/SEOUL
Diplomatic and economic measures taken to rein in North Korea's missile program have not had the desired effect, a senior U.S. military commander said on Thursday after the North's latest test triggered a flurry of calls among world leaders.
U.S President Donald Trump led calls with leaders and senior officials from Japan and South Korea on Thursday to discuss the latest provocation from Pyongyang, hours before Trump begins a much-anticipated summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
"Up to this point I think it is fair to say ... that economic and diplomatic efforts have not supported the progress people have been anticipating and looking forward to," U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Scott Swift said in Tokyo, where he was meeting Japanese Self Defence Force commanders and foreign ministry officials.
North Korea's nuclear and missile programs will be high on the agenda when Trump and Xi meet at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida later on Thursday, with anger in Beijing simmering over the deployment of an advanced U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea.
Analysts have said Wednesday's launch of a ballistic missile from North Korea's east coast probably took place with the Trump-Xi summit in mind as the reclusive state presses ahead in defiance of United Nations resolutions and sanctions.
In a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday, Trump again said that all options were on the table when it came to North Korea's continued missile tests.
Swift said a military response remained among those options.
"That decision would be up to the president," he told reporters. "The military was always an option."
Tensions on the Korean peninsula and the Trump-Xi summit began to worry markets on Thursday, with the dollar and Wall Street shares slipping.
"The market is only starting to factor in recent developments regarding North Korea, and it now wants to figure out the geopolitical implications of the U.S.-China summit," said Shusuke Yamada, a senior strategist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Tokyo.
"DANGEROUS PROVOCATION"
Abe said the two leaders had agreed that North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch was "a dangerous provocation and a serious threat".
He told reporters at his Tokyo residence he was watching to see how China would respond to Pyongyang after Xi meets Trump.
The White House said in a statement after the Abe call Trump "made clear that the United States would continue to strengthen its ability to deter and defend itself and its allies with the full range of its military capabilities".
Trump has repeatedly said he wants China to do more to exert its economic influence over its unpredictable ally in Pyongyang to restrain its nuclear and missile programs, but China denies it has any overriding influence on North Korea.
On Sunday, Trump held out the possibility of using trade as a lever to secure Chinese cooperation, while suggesting Washington might deal with Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs on its own if need be.
Any launch of objects using ballistic missile technology is a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. The North has defied the ban, saying it infringes on its sovereign rights to self-defense and the pursuit of space exploration.
In another call on Thursday, Trump's national security adviser H.R. McMaster told his South Korean counterpart that Washington remained committed to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea.
South Korea and the United States say the sole purpose of the THAAD system is to defend against missile launches from North Korea but China says the system's powerful radar could penetrate into its territory.
The United States began deploying the first elements of the THAAD system in South Korea last month, despite angry opposition from China.
South Korean officials said McMaster discussed the North's latest missile launch and the Trump-Xi summit in a call with his counterpart in Seoul, Kim Kwan-jin.
"Both sides agreed to pursue ... plans in order to substantially strengthen the international community's sanctions and pressure on North Korea," South Korea's presidential Blue House said in a statement.
" ... both agreed to push forward the deployment of THAAD by U.S. forces in Korea," it said.
U.S. officials said the missile launched on Wednesday appeared to be a liquid-fueled, extended-range Scud missile that only traveled a fraction of its range before spinning out of control.
They said it flew about 60 km (40 miles) from its launch site near Sinpo, a port city on the North's east coast where a submarine base is located.
As well as a growing list of ballistic missile launches, North Korea has also conducted two nuclear weapons tests since January 2016.
(This story has been refiled to correct spelling of Bank of America Merrill Lynch strategist's first name to Shusuke in paragraph 10)
(Additional reporting by William Mallard, Kiyoshi Takenaka and Shinichi Saoshiro in TOKYO Eric Beech in WASHINGTON; Editing by Paul Tait)
********
Hope they can get rid of this idiot asap!
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Little progress reining in North Korea, U.S. commander says before Trump-Xi summit
North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un guides the Korean People's Army Tank Crews' Competition 2017 in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on April 1, 2017. KCNA/via REUTERS
By Tim Kelly and Ju-min Park | TOKYO/SEOUL
Diplomatic and economic measures taken to rein in North Korea's missile program have not had the desired effect, a senior U.S. military commander said on Thursday after the North's latest test triggered a flurry of calls among world leaders.
U.S President Donald Trump led calls with leaders and senior officials from Japan and South Korea on Thursday to discuss the latest provocation from Pyongyang, hours before Trump begins a much-anticipated summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
"Up to this point I think it is fair to say ... that economic and diplomatic efforts have not supported the progress people have been anticipating and looking forward to," U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Scott Swift said in Tokyo, where he was meeting Japanese Self Defence Force commanders and foreign ministry officials.
North Korea's nuclear and missile programs will be high on the agenda when Trump and Xi meet at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida later on Thursday, with anger in Beijing simmering over the deployment of an advanced U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea.
Analysts have said Wednesday's launch of a ballistic missile from North Korea's east coast probably took place with the Trump-Xi summit in mind as the reclusive state presses ahead in defiance of United Nations resolutions and sanctions.
In a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday, Trump again said that all options were on the table when it came to North Korea's continued missile tests.
Swift said a military response remained among those options.
"That decision would be up to the president," he told reporters. "The military was always an option."
Tensions on the Korean peninsula and the Trump-Xi summit began to worry markets on Thursday, with the dollar and Wall Street shares slipping.
"The market is only starting to factor in recent developments regarding North Korea, and it now wants to figure out the geopolitical implications of the U.S.-China summit," said Shusuke Yamada, a senior strategist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Tokyo.
"DANGEROUS PROVOCATION"
Abe said the two leaders had agreed that North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch was "a dangerous provocation and a serious threat".
He told reporters at his Tokyo residence he was watching to see how China would respond to Pyongyang after Xi meets Trump.
The White House said in a statement after the Abe call Trump "made clear that the United States would continue to strengthen its ability to deter and defend itself and its allies with the full range of its military capabilities".
Trump has repeatedly said he wants China to do more to exert its economic influence over its unpredictable ally in Pyongyang to restrain its nuclear and missile programs, but China denies it has any overriding influence on North Korea.
On Sunday, Trump held out the possibility of using trade as a lever to secure Chinese cooperation, while suggesting Washington might deal with Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs on its own if need be.
Any launch of objects using ballistic missile technology is a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. The North has defied the ban, saying it infringes on its sovereign rights to self-defense and the pursuit of space exploration.
In another call on Thursday, Trump's national security adviser H.R. McMaster told his South Korean counterpart that Washington remained committed to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea.
South Korea and the United States say the sole purpose of the THAAD system is to defend against missile launches from North Korea but China says the system's powerful radar could penetrate into its territory.
The United States began deploying the first elements of the THAAD system in South Korea last month, despite angry opposition from China.
South Korean officials said McMaster discussed the North's latest missile launch and the Trump-Xi summit in a call with his counterpart in Seoul, Kim Kwan-jin.
"Both sides agreed to pursue ... plans in order to substantially strengthen the international community's sanctions and pressure on North Korea," South Korea's presidential Blue House said in a statement.
" ... both agreed to push forward the deployment of THAAD by U.S. forces in Korea," it said.
U.S. officials said the missile launched on Wednesday appeared to be a liquid-fueled, extended-range Scud missile that only traveled a fraction of its range before spinning out of control.
They said it flew about 60 km (40 miles) from its launch site near Sinpo, a port city on the North's east coast where a submarine base is located.
As well as a growing list of ballistic missile launches, North Korea has also conducted two nuclear weapons tests since January 2016.
(This story has been refiled to correct spelling of Bank of America Merrill Lynch strategist's first name to Shusuke in paragraph 10)
(Additional reporting by William Mallard, Kiyoshi Takenaka and Shinichi Saoshiro in TOKYO Eric Beech in WASHINGTON; Editing by Paul Tait)
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Hope they can get rid of this idiot asap!
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Shotgunner51
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Last Sunday Trump threatened to act unilaterally if necessary, then only within three days North Korea fired a missile again. Of course China Foreign Ministry denies anything to do with it, such response must be purely by NK. I wonder from where NK gets the necessary CNC machine tools, precision components, semiconductors/electronics and aeronautical materials to assemble the missile, and the specialty fuel to fire them?
Then China remains committed to "powerless" in restraining North Korea nuke, space and ICBM programs.
TaiShang
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First of all, the US general must explain why the US singlehandedly undermined the SPT process staging live drill with SK and still not recognizing DPRK as a state.
The has an innate interest in not solving, and even hacking, the peace in the Korean Peninsula.
They made it a DPRK-US competition, completely disregarding the fact that it is a DPRK-ROK dispute.
The US has not and does not care about human cost in the event of a war; hence, they simply pursue mad imperialist strategy.
Go historically back and analyze the progress and demise of SPT, you will see US insincerity and provocations all along.
And now, this shameless entity accusing China for not doing enough.
Unpresidented!
Shotgunner51
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Agree, despite all the media hypes, lies and excuses, the inconvenient truth is always China-US rivalry.
Lockheed Martin, US Government all want to target China by THAAD, but of course will downplay the inconvenient truth and hype up "SK defensive" as an excuse. The excuse is so lame, just look at the map and check size of peninsula, but no other better choice.
China in passive response also needs to downplay the inconvenient truth, hence media hypes up "SK threat" as a reactionary move. Now judging by negative effects this is also lame, but again, no better option. The best move is always proactive, like being actively "powerless" in restraining NK nuke and ICBM programs, plausible deniability allows the inconvenient truth be downplayed. I bet China will continue to trade "rice and potatoes only" with NK, NK will discover all strategic mines below their feet, build advanced industrial complex and escalate nuke & ICBM programs, China Foreign Ministry will deny any relationship with NK.
Fight a dirty guy in his way.
TaiShang
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Definitely agree.
Countering the US by reinforcing the DPRK in a deniable manner seems to be the optimum strategy at the moment. For once, China has no intention to let the DPRK be invaded by the South under any pretext so long as the South is merely an extension of the US without any real sovereign powers.
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