North Korea has set aside all speculations and created global panic by conducting one of the most powerful testings of an ICBM. The missile was airborne for nearly 50 minutes, attained an altitude of around 4000 Km (2500 miles), and a range of 1000 Km (620 miles) before splashing into the sea west of Japan. The signs are ominous. ABC News reports that the parameters are such that North Korea could target any location in the world including the United States.
This test was the first one since mid-September when the country sent a missile flying over Japan, and the current launch is believed to have been from a mobile launcher near the capitol Pyongyang.
US Defence Secretary James Mattis has admitted that the missile went higher than any of North Korea’s earlier attempts.
Is a nuclear war in the offing?
In the opinion of experts, the latest ICBM of North Korea went higher than ever, and Kim Jong-un has proved that he has acquired the ability to strike any country in the world. Obviously, his research and development efforts are meant to build nuclear weapons that can threaten and endanger world peace.
US President Donald Trump has assured the media that America is equipped to handle the situation. The Pentagon has added that the missile did not pose a threat to the United States, its territories or allies.
The incident is an act of provocation and could escalate into an unwanted show of strength which must be avoided.
The United Nation had slapped economic sanctions on North Korea but Kim Jong-un has successfully circumvented the hurdles, and gone ahead with his nuclear programs to disturb the peace in the world.
Reaction of the US allies
The ICBM test conducted by North Korea has rattled Japan and South Korea, the allies of the United States in the region.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held an emergency meeting of his cabinet ministers. He wants the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting. President Donald Trump also had dialogue with the Prime Minister, and indicated that he would boost deterrence capability against North Korea.
President Moon Jae-in of South Korea is equally worried.
If North Korea targets the South and America goes in for a preemptive strike, it would disturb the regional security. In order to fine tune its forces, South Korea conducted a drill within a few minutes of Pyongyang’s missile launch to ensure that their responses are fine-tuned.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has condemned the act of North Korea and wants the regime to put a stop to its programs which are in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions.
