missile test
Trump warns N Korea of severe options
BBC
US President Donald Trump has warned North Korea that he is considering a pretty severe response following the countrys long-range missile test, reports BBC. They are behaving in a very, very dangerous manner and something will have to be done about it, he said.
But he moderated his comments, saying: Well just take a look at what happens over the coming weeks and months.
Pyongyang tested an intercontinental ballistic missile with the potential to hit the US state of Alaska on Tuesday.
Despite the ICBMs relatively short flight and eventual crash into the sea, the test has been labelled a sharp military escalation by the US.
I have pretty severe things that were thinking about, Mr Trump said of a possible US response. That doesnt mean that well do them.
He said other nations should challenge Pyongyangs very, very bad behaviour.
Mr Trump was speaking in Warsaw, Poland, at a joint news conference with the Polish President Andrzej Duda. He is due to meet with other world leaders at the G20 summit in Germany on Friday. The presidents comments follow those of US ambassador Nikki Haley, who told the United Nations Security Council that the US was willing to use its considerable military forces on North Korea if we must.
The US and South Korea have already stepped up military drills, firing missiles into the Sea of Japan in an apparent show of strength. Pyongyang, however, said it would not negotiate over its missile programme unless the US ended its hostile policy against North Korea.
Tuesdays ICBM launch was in defiance of a ban by the UN Security Council, but China and Russia, which are both veto-wielding members of the council, opposed the use of military force. President Trump had already criticised China for its trade with North Korea, and is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit this week.
South Koreas President Moon Jae-in has voiced concern that the Norths nuclear and missile development is proceeding much faster than expected. Speaking in Berlin
on Wednesday, where he met German leader Angela Merkel, he said they would examine possibilities of ramping up sanctions.
At the UN Security Council meeting in New York, Frances ambassador said it also favoured a new resolution on North Korea to tighten sanctions.
Russia, which condemned the test, said the possibility of using military measures should be excluded.
