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By Gosuke Kawano
Rabat – As North Korean military provocations escalated with Tuesday’s missile test, United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has asked for “global action” to stop a “global threat.”
On Tuesday, July 4, coinciding with US Independence Day, North Korea test-launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The announcement of the launch was made by Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency and confirmed by the Pentagon later that day.
North Korean president Kim Jong Un said this test was a gift to the US on its Independence Day, commenting “We should deliver big and small presents often.”
In a statement the same day, Tillerson strongly condemned the ballistic missile launch by North Korea, calling it “a new escalation of the threat to the United States, our allies and partners, the region, and the world.”
The secretary added, “The United States has spoken enough about North Korea. We have no further comment.”
According to analytical information, if the missile were lunched on a standard, flatter trajectory, it would have the capability of reaching Alaska.
To fight against this global threat, the US and South Korea have conducted a joint exercise along South Korea’s eastern coastline, showcasing precision targeting of the enemy’s leadership in case of an emergency.
Under this unexpected situation, US national security, military and diplomatic officials gathered for emergency Independence Day meetings to discuss what actions could be taken, administration officials told CNN.
While the meeting has not yet led to any concrete actions, the US response could include sending additional US military assets such as troops, aircraft and ships to the region along with diplomatic options like more sanctions are being considered. It is likely the Pentagon will publicly declare that all missile defense aboard Navy shops in the western Pacific, land-based missiles in Alaska and missile defense systems in South Korea and Japan are fully ready.
US military commanders have been confirming that they are ready for a “worst-case scenario,” according to CNN.
Beyond domestic level, a global meeting was also called for to discuss this threat. US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley asked for an emergency session of the UN Security Council to address the issue at a meeting scheduled Wednesday afternoon in New York.
