North Korea Fires Scud-Class Ballistic Missile, Dismisses G7 Warning

North Korea has ignored the warning of G7 summit leaders and fired at least one short-range ballistic missile that has landed in the sea of Japan. The missile launch is North Korea’s third missile test in three weeks, according to CNBC. North Korea’s multiple missile launches have created widespread fears that the rogue state’s repeated tests will bring the world closer to World War 3.

“North Korea must immediately and fully comply with all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) and abandon all nuclear and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner… Condemning in the strongest terms North Korea’s nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, we stand ready to strengthen measures aimed at achieving these objectives and strongly call on the international community to redouble its efforts to ensure the sustained, comprehensive and thorough implementation of relevant UNSCRs.”

The projectile is believed to be a Scud-class ballistic missile and flew about 450 kilometers (roughly 280 miles), according to South Korean officials. North Korea has a large stockpile of these short-range missiles, which were originally developed by the Soviet Union. South Korea’s military said the missile was fired on Monday from the region of Wonsan.

The massive weapon landed off its east coast and into the Sea of Japan. The action is presumed to be a provocation towards the United States as Japan is one of the U.S.’s closest allies. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed action along with other nations to tame Pyongyang’s repeated provocations, according to the Daily Mail.

The prime minister stated, “As we agreed at the recent G7, the issue of North Korea is a top priority for the international community… Working with the United States, we will take specific action to deter North Korea.”

Following the events, President Donald Trump took to Twitter to respond to North Korea’s latest missile launch. Trump said North Korea has shown “great disrespect” to China with its latest missile launch. Trump has just returned from his international visits from Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy, and meetings with European leaders to discuss NATO. The president used Twitter to continue his efforts to get North Korea to back off with their aggressive actions.

North Korea has shown great disrespect for their neighbor, China, by shooting off yet another ballistic missile…but China is trying hard!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2017

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Russia’s Vladimir Titov have condemned North Korea’s latest missile test but have called for restraint from allies, asking, “At present, the situation on the Korean peninsula is complex and sensitive, and we hope all relevant sides maintain calm and exercise restraint,” as per the Express.

Titov also called for the international community to rein in its response, explaining, “We are at the same time calling on the partners with whom we are working to show restraint, including towards military activity in this region.”

The missile was fired on Monday from the region of Wonsan in an easterly direction into the Sea of Japan, South Korea’s military said. North Korea has been conducting multiple missile launch tests at an unprecedented pace in an effort to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of hitting the mainland United States.

Trump has repeatedly looked to China to compose in North Korea, saying China could reign in North Korea if it wanted to. Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago in April. Following the meeting, he tweeted a potentially better trade deal for China with the U.S. provided they “solve the North Korea problem.”

“I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!”

The president has said that the U.S. would help China out if they are unable to tame North Korea.

“North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great… If not, we will solve the problem without them!”

On Tuesday, the United States will test an existing missile defense system that will attempt to intercept an ICBM, officials said. This will be the first test of its kind.

President Moon Jae-in was immediately briefed on Monday’s missile launch by North Korea. A meeting of the National Security Council was called, according to the South Korean office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Kim Dong-yup, a military expert at Kyungnam University’s Far Eastern Studies department in Seoul, said the purpose of the missile launch could be for different things.

“There are many possibilities… It could have been a test for a different type of engine. Or to verify the credibility of the main engine for ICBM’s first stage rocket.”

North Korea has repeatedly rejected the sanctions imposed by the U.N. and by other nations against its nuclear weapons program. The reclusive state actually regards the sanctions as an infringement on its right to self-defense and added that the program is necessary to counter U.S. aggression, according to the Daily Mail.

The United States has adamantly denied any intention to attack North Korea.

On Sunday, May 28, the secretive state’s official media agency, KNCA, raved about the testing of their anti-aircraft guided weapon system and released new images of Kim Jong-un observing a test launch. Kim was shown holding binoculars in the photos and is surrounded by army officials.

“Kim Jong Un watched the test of a new type of anti-aircraft guided weapon system organized by the Academy of National Defense Science… This weapon system, whose operation capability has been thoroughly verified, should be mass-produced to deploy all over the country… The system will ‘completely spoil the enemy’s wild dream to command the air, boasting of air supremacy and weapon almighty.”

Just last Monday, North Korea said it had successfully tested what it called an intermediate-range ballistic missile. The nation said the missile passed all technical requirements and could now be mass-produced. However, Western experts believe the North still needed several years to develop such a weapon.

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