U.S. officials in coordination with regional allies scrambled in an emergency meeting after North Korea launched what is now suspected to be an ICBM. The missile flew off North Korea and traveled 578 miles in 37 minutes before crashing into the sea of Japan.
Russia and China urges U.S. to accept tension-reducing deal
Immediately after the suspected Intercontinental Ballistic Missile or ICBM launch by North Korea, Russia and china quickly urged the U.S. to accept a deal that is supposed to reduce the tension in Korea. The deal involved the complete halt of all military exercises between the U.S.
and South Korea in exchange for a complete halt of Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic ambition. The deal was proposed by Moscow and Beijing as a final solution to the North Korean problem.
The United States seems not willing to compromise on such a deal, especially with the threatening demeanor of Kim Jong-un. Also, agreeing to a proposal drafted by China and Russia will go against U.S. integrity, especially after repeated requests for Russian and Chinese intervention against North Korea fell on deaf ears.
How will the United States react?
U.S. officials immediately convened an emergency meeting to discuss a proper response to the latest missile test, which was officially designated as an "intermediate" range and not an ICBM.
Trump on the other hand, immediately went to Twitter to condemn the launch and rouse sentiments in South Korea and Japan to react vigorously to this "threat."
North Korea has just launched another missile. Does this guy have anything better to do with his life? Hard to believe that South Korea.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2017
....and Japan will put up with this much longer. Perhaps China will put a heavy move on North Korea and end this nonsense once and for all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2017
According to estimates from the U.S.
military, the said missile named "Hwasong 14," could theoretically reach the Alaskan coast. However, such estimates are worst-case scenarios of the missile type, which has a history of failed tests in the past months. It is still not sure whether North Korea had managed to acquire the technology to arm the warheads with nuclear tips, but if that is the case, the U.S.
will have no more alternative but to launch a preemptive strike.
The United States also requested a meeting with the U.N. Security Council to address the threat of North Korea now that it claims to have successfully launched its first ICBM. Many are now looking at how U.S. President Donald Trump will react to this, knowing that he had once agreed on conducting preemptive strikes at Pyongyang.
He is still hoping to have China heed his request of reining in its only regional ally. However, as the situation continues, it seems that China will not treat U.S. policy seriously and side with a growing Asian block that is slowly being influenced to go against the West.
