Trump vows to 'take care' of North Korea after missile test which 'could hit mainland U.S.’
Donald Trump has responded to the latest North Korean missile test by promising to “take care of it”.
The President was responding after North Korea ended a 10-week pause in its weapons testing by launching what the Pentagon said was an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States.
When asked about the launch, Trump said the United States will “take care of it”, adding: ”It is a situation that we will handle.”
Just spoke to President XI JINPING of China concerning the provocative actions of North Korea. Additional major sanctions will be imposed on North Korea today. This situation will be handled!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2017
The President did not elaborate any further but he later tweeted that he had discussed imposing “major sanctions” on North Korea with Chinese president Xi Jinping.
He added: “This situation will be handled!”
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also called on North Korea to “change course”, after the missile launch.
Mr Johnson tweeted: “Another illegal missile launch from DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea).
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“This is not the path to security and prosperity for the North Korean people. DPRK regime must change course.”
In Washington, a Pentagon spokesman said the missile travelled about 620 miles before landing in the sea less than 200 nautical miles from the coast of Japan.
Japan said the flight took some 53 minutes.
Another illegal missile launch from DPRK. This is not the path to security and prosperity for the North Korean people. DPRK regime must change course
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 28, 2017
South Korea responded with shorter-range missile tests of its own.
The launch signals further progress by the North in developing a weapon of mass destruction that could strike the US mainland, which President Donald Trump has vowed to prevent, using military force if necessary.
US officials have floated the idea of direct talks with North Korea if it maintained restraint but an intercontinental ballistic missile test is considered particularly provocative.
Col Manning, the Pentagon spokesman, said the North American Aerospace Defence Command, known as Norad, “determined the missile launch from North Korea did not pose a threat to North America, our territories or our allies”.er
US scientist David Wright said that based on initial reports on the altitude and duration of the test, it appeared to be North Korea’s longest-range test yet, with a potential range of over 8,100 miles.
The UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting on North Korea’s latest launch.