World must contain North Korea’s N-ambitions

North Korea allegedly carried out a ballistic missile test on early Sunday. But there was no confirmation from Pyongyang. The US Strategic Command reported that it was a medium- or intermediate-range ballistic missile. Japanese government confirmed that the missile fell in seas between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.
Kim Jong Un, the reclusive leader of the pariah state, warned in his New Year’s address that his country was ready to test its first intercontinental ballistic missile. Kim claimed that Pyongyang had reached the final stages of readiness to test an ICBM. The North conducted two nuclear tests and fired more than 25 projectiles last year. The UN Security Council unanimously passed a fresh resolution in late November that tightened sanctions on North Korea, including cutting the country’s coal exports, after the regime conducted its fifth nuclear test in September.
The launch was the first provocation by North Korea since Trump took office. The Kim’s regime has accelerated efforts to develop nuclear weapons and missiles that can strike the US and its allies in Asia. In response, the US plans to deploy a missile defense system known as Thaad in South Korea, a move opposed by China, North Korea’s primary ally.
The latest launch came as Trump was hosting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida. Abe condemned the missile launch as absolutely intolerable and President Donald Trump assured Japan that the US stands behind it “100 percent.” US needs Tokyo’s assistance in North Asia. For Washington, Japan acts as a buffer against China and to help pressure Kim over his nuclear ambitions. Abe called on the North to comply fully with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
In response to the launch, South Korea held a National Security Council meeting at the presidential Blue House. South Korea wants North must be punished for its missile launch. Seoul is working in tandem with international community and doing its best to ensure a fitting response to Kim’s regime. South Korean and US military officials were analyzing further details from the launch.
South Korea’s presidential security director Kim Kwan Jin spoke with President Donald Trump’s national security adviser Michael Flynn to decide the future course of actions and possible way to suppress North Korean provocations.
South Korea said it will continue to work with allies, including the United States, Japan and the European Union, to ensure a thorough implementation of sanctions against the North and make the country realize that it will ‘never be able to survive’ without discarding all of its nuclear and missile programs.
On the other hand, North maintains that it will continue building up capacity for self-defense. Kim’s regime vows to boost its nuclear forces and a pre-emptive strike capability as long as Pyongyang’s enemies continue sanctions to suppress the country. North called for Washington to abandon its diplomatic approach.
North Korea’s reckless behavior and the utter disregard to UN Security Council resolutions are increasingly posing threat to all. World leaders must not relax and should understand that the situation of the peninsula is quite unstable and may turn into a hot conflict. There is a need to work intensively on the Korean dossier and not slow down the pace for all of us. The missile launch shows the irrational nature of North government. It exposes how fanatically Kim is obsessed with developing nuclear ballistic missiles. World must contain Kim and reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula.