North Korea on Sunday fired a ballistic missile into the sea in an apparent test of new US President Donald Trump, who responded by pledging
SEOUL: North Korea on Sunday fired a ballistic missile into the sea in an apparent test of new US President Donald Trump, who responded by pledging «100 per cent» support for Washington’s key regional ally Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose country would be in range of any hostile North Korean launch, called the test «absolutely intolerable» during an impromptu press conference with Trump in Florida.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, altering an earlier military assessment, said the test was «highly likely» to have been of a modified intermediate-range Musudan missile.
The Musudan has a range of 2,500-4,000 kilometres, meaning it could threaten both Japan and US bases on Guam.
The missile was launched around 7.55am (6.55am Singapore time Sunday) from Banghyon air base in the western province of North Pyongan, and flew east towards the Sea of Japan (East Sea), the South’s defence ministry said.
It flew about 500 kilometres before falling into the sea, a ministry spokesman said.
«Today’s missile launch … is aimed at drawing global attention to the North by boasting its nuclear and missile capabilities», the ministry said in a statement.
«It is also believed that it was an armed provocation to test the response from the new US administration under President Trump,» it added.
It was the first such test since last October.
Trump, speaking alongside Abe, said Washington was committed to his country’s security.
«I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 per cent,» he said, without elaborating.
