Even as the United States was preparing to celebrate the Fourth of July, North Korea announced successful testing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that, in the opinion of US experts, had the range to reach Alaska. The exercise was supervised by its leader Kim Jong Un.
Reacting to this, President Donald Trump has impressed on China the need to use its clout to ensure that North Korea stops such activities. The country has plans to develop a rocket that could target America with a nuclear-tipped weapon and, the latest test of an ICBM can be interpreted as another step towards its objective.
Observation of specialists
Daily Mail UK reports that one of the specialists admitted that the weapon was indeed an ICBM with a range that could reach Anchorage but not San Francisco. Another expert has calculated the possible range to be around 6700-Km which would not affect large portions of the United States but could reach Alaska.
The state Korean Central Television provided details about this latest missile of North Korea – it was a Hwasong missile and attained an altitude of over 2,800-Km, was airborne for a distance of nearly 1000-Km and the duration of the flight was around 40 minutes. The news went on to add that it was launched at such a trajectory that there was no danger to neighboring countries.
Confusion about the test
The claims of North Korea do not match with observations of South Korea and the United States who had initially concluded that it was not an ICBM but one of medium range. This was in line with the views expressed by Russia who has indicated a number of relevant parameters that fall far short of the claims.
Russia has confirmed that such a missile does not pose any threat to it.
From all appearance, the action is a political warning to the United States and its allies in the region while Pyongyang continues to proceed with the development program of its weapons.
North Korea is intent on keeping the tension in the Korean peninsula alive, and its activities are directed towards that objective.
It is already bound by sanctions, but it has devised methods to circumvent them and carry on with its nuclear programs.
China is its main ally, and President Donald Trump felt it could persuade Pyongyang to stop its activities. Trump wanted Xi Jinping, the President of China, to take necessary action to thwart the designs of North Korea. However, even if China has taken any action, its effects on North Korea are still not visible.
China is its main ally, and President Donald Trump felt it could persuade Pyongyang to stop its activities. Trump wanted Xi Jinping, the President of China, to take necessary action to thwart the designs of North Korea. However, even if China has taken any action, its effects on North Korea are still not visible.
On its part, the United States has positioned its warships in the region as an assurance to its allies, and there are possibilities of carrying out a preventive strike if the situation so demands.
