North Korea Launches Missile—Tensions Rise

It was early this Sunday morning when North Korea launched an “intermediate-range ballistic missile,” flying 430 miles before landing in the sea. Some may observe this action and regard it as nothing but a harmless act; others, on the other hand, are outraged and threatened by this gesture, believing this operation to be more than just missile testing.

Observed by the South Korean military, the missile “took off from the northwestern city of Kusong and flew more than 430 miles before landing in the sea between North Korea and Japan”.  Many are obviously disturbed by this occurrence.  The White House stated, “The United States maintains our ironclad commitment to stand with our allies in the face of the serious threat posed by North Korea.”  United States ambassador Nikki R. Haley also adds to that by tweeting, “There are no excuses that justify N. Korea’s actions.  This was close to home for Russia.  China can’t expect dialogue.  This threat is real.”

According to the United Nations Security Council, North Korea was banned from developing or testing its ballistic missiles from the beginning, but proceeded to do so regardless. Newly elected South Korean President Moon Jae-in urgently ordered a meeting in which he criticized the North Korean missile launch as “a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions,” , prompting his military to prepare conflict and aggression from the North.

As President Trump stated earlier that he would be “honoured” to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Moon adds similarly that, “We keep our door open for dialogue with North Korea, but we must act decisively against North Korean provocations so that it will not be miscalculated… We must show that dialogue is possible when the North changes its attitude.”

With Moon’s victory in the elections on Tuesday, South Korea has taken a more progressive and liberal turn.  Choe San-Hun of The New York Times notes that “[South Korea favors] dialogue with North Korea, saying that sanctions alone have not worked to stop its nuclear and missile threats.” It is said that this recent missile launching was only a testing of the boundaries, as North Korea has done many times.  San-Hun adds that, “North Korea has a history of raising tensions to strengthen its leverage [and]… test new leaders in Seoul or Washington.”

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe strongly opposes North Korea’s action that occurred earlier this day, describing North Korea’s launch as a “grave threat against Japan,”; because of this statement, Japan is thus collaborating with the United States and South Korea.

Despite conflicting opinions and much excitement regarding the occurrence that happened this day, tensions still seem to be high in the air; it can only be hoped that with time and conversation between both sides will peace be possible and stresses eased.