The U.S. Air Force launched on Wednesday an unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), a demonstration of strength amid tensions with North Korea. According to ABC News, the test was conducted at the Vanderberg Air Force base, 130 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California.
It was the fourth test of the kind this year, the last of which took place in May. According to the Air Force Global Strike Command, such tests are carried out to show the effectiveness and readiness of the system.
North Korean audacity
In July, North Korea launched 2 long-range missiles, both of which fell in the Sea of Japan.
Nevertheless, according to specialists in the U.S and Europe, the last test showed the isolated regime might be capable of hitting the American mainland.
The results were celebrated by North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-Un, the third of the same dynasty ruling the country since 1948. In response, the U.S. Air Force flew B-1B bombers around North Korea, sided by Japanese and South Korean military jetfighters, though none of the planes has violated the country’s airspace, The Guardian reported.
Rex Tillerson
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the U.S. does not seek a regime change in North Korea as long as it halts the development of a complex nuclear program.
At the State Department briefing this Tuesday, BBC stated, Tillerson declared to be open for dialogue,.
“We are not your threat, but you are presenting an unacceptable threat to us, and we have to respond,” he said.
The Secretary also said the U.S. can contribute for the security and prosperity of the country and its people.
Donald Trump vs. China
Following the last North Korean test with an intercontinental ballistic missile, President Donald Trump complained on Twitter about China’s inaction on North Korean nuclear and military activities.
According to him, the Chinese could solve this issue all at once, but they did nothing to stop the dictatorship in reaching its aims.
I am very disappointed in China. Our foolish past leaders have allowed them to make hundreds of billions of dollars a year in trade, yet...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2017
...they do NOTHING for us with North Korea, just talk. We will no longer allow this to continue. China could easily solve this problem!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2017
Chinese State Media called President Trump's Tweets “emotional venting.” According to Vox, in an editorial displayed on Chinese websites, Xinhua, China’s most important news agency, said that Trump's complaining on social media will contribute very little to solving the nuclear tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
In the same editorial, Xinhua warned that President Trump is choosing the wrong target for his outrage and that such an attitude could turn out in a war on the peninsula or even in a conflict of continental proportions.
For China, according to the editorial, the most important is keeping the peace in the region and maintaining trade with the U.S. Last year alone, China's surplus with America amounted to $347 billion, which has been a sore spot in the White House.
