north korea fires missile ‘to test trump’
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today
Egypt Today, egypt today
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today

North Korea fires missile ‘to test Trump’

Egypt Today, egypt today

Egypt Today, egypt today North Korea fires missile ‘to test Trump’

A woman walks past a television screen showing file footage of North Korea's missile launch.
Seoul - Arab Today

 North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Sunday in an apparent provocation to test the response from new US President Donald Trump, the South Korean defence ministry said.

The missile, launched around 7.55am from Banghyon air base in the western province of North Pyongan Province, flew east towards the Sea of Japan, it said.

It flew about 500km before falling into the sea, a defence ministry spokesman said, adding the exact type of missile had yet to be identified.

“It is believed that today’s missile launch ... is aimed at drawing global attention to the North by boasting its nuclear and missile capabilities,” the ministry said in a statement.

“It is also believed that it was an armed provocation to test the response from the new US administration under President Trump,” it added.

An army official quoted by Yonhap news agency ruled out the possibility of a long-range missile test, describing the device as an upgraded version of the North’s short-range Rodong missile.

“The launch also appears to be part of the North’s effort to steadily improve its missile capabilities,” the official was quoted as saying.

‘Clear provocation’

The launch came after after Trump assured visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that Washington was committed to the security of its key Asian ally.

“We will work together to promote our shared interests, of which we have many, in the region, including freedom from navigation and defending against the North Korean missile and nuclear threat, both of which I consider a very, very high priority,” Trump said Friday.

The two leaders did not immediately respond to Sunday’s launch, which came after Pyongyang carried out two atomic tests and fired multiple missiles last year, triggering enhanced UN sanctions.

“We are aware of the reports and are closely monitoring the situation”, a White House official told AFP, adding that the president had been briefed.

South Korea’s acting president Hwang Gyo-Ahn vowed a “corresponding punishment” in response, while Japan’s top government spokesman Yoshihide Suge called the launch “absolutely intolerable”.

“Considering the missile was launched immediately after the Japan-US summit, it is clearly a provocation to Japan and the region,” Suge told reporters.

The launch came on the heels of a visit to Seoul by new US Defense Secretary James Mattis last week, who had warned Pyongyang that any nuclear attack would be met with an “effective and overwhelming” response.

“Any attack on the United States or our allies will be defeated and any use of nuclear weapons would be met with a response that would be effective and overwhelming,” Mattis said.

North Korea is barred under UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology but six sets of UN sanctions since Pyongyang’s first nuclear test in 2006 have failed to halt its drive for what it insists are defensive weapons.

Last year the country conducted numerous tests and launches in its quest to develop a nuclear weapons system capable of hitting the US mainland.

In January leader Kim Jong-Un boasted that Pyongyang was in the “final stages” of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in an apparent attempt to pressure the incoming US president.

Trump shot back on Twitter, saying “It won’t happen.”

Washington has repeatedly vowed that it would never accept North Korea as a nuclear-armed nation and the latest launch poses a test for Trump, who will need the help of Beijing, Pyongyang’s closest ally, to deal with the reclusive state.

Nuclear push

Analysts are divided over how close Pyongyang is to realising its full nuclear ambitions, especially as it has never successfully test-fired an ICBM.

But all agree it has made enormous strides in that direction since Kim took over after the death of his father and longtime ruler, Kim Jong-Il, in December 2011.

The young leader is planning a “prime time” nuclear weapons push this year to take advantage of a leadership transition in South Korea — where the president has been impeached — and the US, a high-ranking North Korean defector said recently.

Thae Yong-Ho, a former deputy ambassador to Britain who recently defected to Seoul, said Kim would never trade away the North’s nuclear arsenal no matter how large a financial incentive might be offered

source : gulfnews

egypttoday
egypttoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

north korea fires missile ‘to test trump’ north korea fires missile ‘to test trump’



GMT 00:19 2012 Sunday ,19 February

Sky extends rugby league contract

GMT 12:34 2012 Tuesday ,07 February

New Kurdish satellite TV station goes on air

GMT 06:29 2014 Sunday ,31 August

Finally, Apple’s iWatch coming in September

GMT 04:51 2017 Thursday ,13 April

Huda Kattan among top 10 beauty influencers

GMT 08:47 2011 Monday ,25 July

Uncle Sam wants psychiatrists

GMT 09:51 2019 Monday ,19 August

Live a frustrating atmosphere in your career

GMT 19:15 2012 Monday ,20 February

Sound of music for Sky News Arabia

GMT 23:28 2012 Saturday ,25 February

Al Jazeera crowned RTS news channel of the year

GMT 09:09 2012 Friday ,13 July

Supreme Court warns Pak prime minister

GMT 19:14 2017 Monday ,06 February

Earthquake Hits Areas in Iran's Khuzestan

GMT 04:45 2017 Monday ,06 February

Chazelle wins top DGA prize for ‘La La Land’

GMT 08:18 2016 Wednesday ,03 February

Syria's war-pummelled textile industry

GMT 21:09 2016 Wednesday ,01 June

Suspected US troops attack Al Shabaab in Somalia

GMT 18:03 2015 Monday ,09 February

GCC assistant secretary-general meets Swiss official

GMT 09:27 2017 Saturday ,30 December

Cyprus president among nine candidates

GMT 02:02 2012 Friday ,10 August

Potato juice treat stomach ulcers

GMT 12:43 2013 Monday ,03 June

Mays Hamdan works on new song

GMT 06:11 2015 Thursday ,22 October

Comedian Chris Rock to host Oscars again

GMT 12:10 2012 Wednesday ,26 September

Marwa\'s plans after finishing film Christmas

GMT 06:23 2012 Friday ,13 April

Happy Feet Two

GMT 13:24 2012 Tuesday ,24 July

LeAnn Rimes in see-through top
 
 Egypt Today Facebook,egypt today facebook  Egypt Today Twitter,egypt today twitter Egypt Today Rss,egypt today rss  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
egypttoday, Egypttoday, Egypttoday