Seoul has announced plans to deploy a U.S. anti-missile system in the wake of the North’s repeated missile launches.
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“We’re going to work together to make sure that we’re closing loopholes and making them even more effective”.
Kim Jong-Un with some of his military officials.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency said Kim was informed about the details of the planned drill, then ordered the commander of the Strategic Force to begin.
The White House noted the USA remains committed to moving ahead with the planned deployment of a major anti-missile system in South Korea.
Pyongyang appears to have successfully tested such a missile last month, much to the jubilation of Kim, as seen in photos released by North Korean state media.
President Obama said the latest North Korea launches are provocative and that North Korea needs to know that such actions will increase its isolation in the world.
This once again showed the North’s “blatant disregard” for United Nations sanctions and its worldwide obligations “and its willingness to provoke and to threaten the global community with impunity”, Power said.
The North’s KCNA news agency said Kim personally oversaw Monday’s missile firing, which he “appreciated as flawless”.
In Seoul, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hailed the UNSC action as “a strong warning over North Korea’s repeated ballistic missile provocations” and “an expression of unified determination to change” North Korea’s attitude.
Recent efforts have flown greater distances, including a submarine-launched ballistic missile on August 24 that flew about 310 miles and also landed near Japan.
Critics also say the system could be rendered ineffective if North Korea unleashes its sizable arsenal of missiles.
United Nations resolutions bar North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has carried out several launches following its fourth nuclear test in January.
He said the two leaders want peace and security for all peoples.
Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said they fell off the northwestern coast of Hokkaido. That means “North Korea’s submarines would not have to travel very far out to sea to attack the THAAD system from behind”.
On Tuesday, Obama warned of more penalties for Pyongyang if the country continued to pursue weapons tests.
North Korea fired three Rodong-type midrange missiles that landed in the Sea of Japan on Monday, according to the South Korean military.
Park described the launches as a “reckless provocation (that) will lead North Korea down the path of self-destruction”. Those sanctions reflected growing anger at Pyongyang’s nuclear test in January and a subsequent rocket launch.
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Obama said that he’s open to having discussions with the North Korean government, but only if Pyongyang decides to drop its nuclear ambitions. About 28,500 USA servicemembers are stationed in the South.
