North Korea Test-Fires Ballistic Missile, Trump Says Regime Disrespected China
Local Editor
After Pyongyang test-fired a ballistic missile, US President Donald Trump condemned North Korea, saying it "disrespected the wishes of China."
The unsuccessful test comes as the United States pushed for tougher sanctions to curb the country's nuclear threat.
Writing on Twitter, the US president said Pyongyang defied Chinese president Xi Jinping by going ahead with the launch.
North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad!
For its part, South Korea's military said the test of the missile took place near Bukchang in South Pyeongan Province early on Saturday morning.
A US government source told the Reuters that initial indications suggested the test was unsuccessful.
The US military's Pacific Command said the missile did not leave North Korean territory.
"US Pacific Command detected what we assess was a North Korean missile launch at 10:33am Hawaii time ... The ballistic missile launch occurred near the Pukchang airfield," PACOM spokesman Commander Dave Benham said in a statement.
"The missile did not leave North Korean territory."
Japan joined in criticism of the test launch, saying it was absolutely unacceptable and a violation of UN resolution.
A US official said the Trump administration could respond by speeding up its plans for new US sanctions against Pyongyang, including possible measures against specific North Korean and Chinese entities.
"It's possible that something could be sped up," the official said of the potential for imposing new unilateral sanctions on North Korea. "Something that's ready to go could be taken from the larger package and expedited."
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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