North Korea: US, allies vow to pressure Pyongyang after ballistic missile launch

They pledged to put pressure on North Korea during an emergency meeting they had today (11/18) after the Pyongyang launched intercontinental ballistic missile US Vice President Kamala Harris and the leaders of Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Tokyo announced, as reported by the Athens News Agency, that the missile traveled a distance of about 1,000 kilometers and is capable of hitting the American continent. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada stated that it had reached a maximum altitude of 6,000 km, inferring that it was “ballistic missile class ICBM’, although the rest of the details are ‘under analysis’

“We strongly condemn these actions”

A few hours later, Harris met with the leaders of these countries on the sidelines of the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which is being held in Bangkok.

“We strongly condemn these actions and call again North Korea to stop any further illegal and destabilizing actions,” Harris told reporters at the start of the talks.

“On behalf of the United States, I reiterate our firm commitment to our allies in the Indo-Pacific region,” he added.

The prime ministers of Japan Fumio Kishida, South Korea Han Dukso, Australia’s Anthony Albanese, New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern and Canada’s Justin Trudeau participated in the meeting.

The launch comes after weeks of tension with North Korea, with US intelligence agencies estimating that Pyongyang is preparing for its seventh nuclear test.

In a statement about these talks, the White House pointed out that the six leaders warned of a “strong and decisive response” if it needs to be given.

“The path of dialogue remains open for the DPRK and they called on it to stop futile provocations and return to serious diplomacy,” the statement added.

In a veiled reference to Pyongyang’s key ally China, the White House statement called on all UN members to “fully implement” Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions on North Korea.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the leaders wanted an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, which China and Russia vetoed in May in a US bid to strengthen sanctions against North Korea.

“The goal is for the whole world to unite in condemning North Korea’s actions and to defend peace and security in our region,” Albanese told Australian reporters.

Pyongyang launched an unprecedented series of missile launches in early November, one of which landed in South Korean waters.

North Korea launched 23 missiles on Nov. 2 alone, more than in all of 2017, when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and then-US President Donald Trump issued threats.

In September and October, Pyongyang launched several missiles, one of which flew over Japan for the first time in five years.

Analysts say North Korea has been emboldened as it believes it is likely to avoid new UN sanctions, thanks to a split in the Security Council, where China and Russia are blocking any efforts in that direction.

While Moscow remains “faithful” to a “diplomatic” solution for the Korean peninsula, “the US and its allies in the region (…) prefer a different path (…), as if testing Pyongyang’s patience”, criticized today Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.