The U.N. voted during an emergency session following the launch to condemn the nation. Second, how will Seoul and Washington’s decision to bring U.S.’ anti missile defense system to the Korean peninsula impact Beijing’s move from here on?
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Chinese leaders are supposed to be piqued by Kim Jong Un’s rogue behavior, but they’re as unwilling as ever to impose serious sanctions or cut supplies of fuel, arms, luxury goods and other… Currently South Korea has the ability to detect and track long-range ballistic missiles through its Aegis destroyers.
Hours after North Korea claimed it had successfully put a satellite into orbit on Sunday, South Korea and the U.S. announced that they would begin talks on the deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to South Korea.
The South turned on high-powered loudspeakers to blare pop songs and harsh criticism of the North’s leader, Kim Jong Un, across the border. Less clear is whether North Korea has made the strides it claims in miniaturising a nuclear warhead for the missile to carry. Relations between the neighboring countries are particularly tense this week as North Korea allegedly plans to conduct a missile test under the guise of a space satellite launch.
South Korea said one THAAD battery costs about €1.2 billion, and the U.S. would cover the costs of deployment, operation and maintenance.
“We reaffirm our ironclad commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea [South Korea] and Japan”, Kerry added.
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The Korea JoongAng Daily newspaper reported Tuesday that that discovery had alarmed South Korean officials and led to fears that the North might have sent hazardous biochemical agents. While Japan’s self-defence forces deployed PAC-3 surface-to-air batteries after North Korea revealed its planned launch, Patriot missile units did not attempt to engage after the rocket was sacked.
