Heads of defense departments from the US, Japan and South Korea are now more committed than ever to share intelligence reports after North Korea missile test.
While speaking at a press conference, the US reaffirmed that it is determined to ensure its two allies remain secure even as North Korea continues to become a formidable threat.
US F-22 stealth fighters and a nuclear-powered submarine is expected to be included in next month’s military practices, reported South Korean news agency Yonhap.
The United Nations has equally come into the open to condemn the test.
North Korea is currently serving a UN ban after having made threatening steps to advance its missile technology. It began the tests back in 2006 and so far the UN Security Council has imposed 5 set of sanctions against the Kim-led nation.
Early last year on 6th January, North Korea carried out nuclear test and then launched a satellite on 7th February same year, violating existing UN sanctions.
After that, the UN implemented sanctions that the US had proposed on the North. China played a central role in the drafting of the sanctions after intense negotiations between the Washington and Beijing.
Previously, there have been sanctions in 2006, 2009 and 2013 but they have not fully managed to dispel the nuclear ambitions of N. Korea.
Most of the times, China gets the burden of implementing the sanctions.
Under the new sanctions, each ship into and out of North Korea has to be inspected and any imports will be halted if proof exists showing that the income from trade has been used to finance North’s nuclear programme.
Washington has for a long time sought the Beijing to pressurize North Korea. A White House statement in February said China’s “unique influence over the North Korean regime” gave it the chance to do so.
How the UN Responded to Latest Missile Test
Once again the Security Council has referred to the test as a grave violation of the UN resolutions and called up its members to double their efforts in implementing the sanctions against the North.
“The members of the Security Council deplore all the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ballistic missile activities, including these launches,” it said in a statement.
South Korea, the US and Japan called for the emergency meeting.
This test is different in that it involved an intercontinental ballistic missile and Kim Jong-un has already termed the test to be successful.
Experts were unsure of the type of missile but have now indentified it to be Pukguksong-2, indicating that North Korea has stepped up its nuclear and missile programmes.
The US President has from time and again referred to North Korea as a big problem and affirmed his determination to strongly deal with the country. However, he hasn’t provided the details of how he plans to do that.
The Pentagon has confirmed that the US can strongly protect itself and its allies from the threats.
