South Korea isn’t buying North Korea’s latest missile claims

Moon unveiled his broad vision for improving inter-Korean relations during his speech in Berlin last Thursday, two days after North Korea test-fired its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Washington Post: Trump warns of “severe” consequences for North Korea as Russia, China balk at tough USA talk – “President Trump on Thursday stepped up efforts to blunt North Korea, warning that the rogue nation could face “some pretty severe” consequences over its latest missile test and huddling for more than an hour with the leaders of Japan and South Korea”.

The hermit kingdom test-fired what it claimed was an ICBM for the first time on 4 July defying UN-led worldwide regulations and increasing tensions further in the Korean peninsula. That comes as no surprise given that dictator Kim Jong Un and others before him have openly declared the intent to develop a missile armed with nuclear weapons that can reach the U.S.

Despite its long range, the North Korean missile fired on July 4 is not capable of a key process that would allow a nuclear weapon atop the projectile to hit its target, South Korea’s intelligence service told lawmakers Tuesday.

China has urged the US and South Korea to suspend their joint military exercises in exchange for the North freezing its missile and nuclear tests.

Kim is “firmly determined and committed” to test an ICBM that can reach the U.S. mainland within this year, the Korean Central News Agency said. And indeed Americans are not happy about it, though it would be overstating the case to say panic is sweeping the United States at the news that North Korea’s ICBMs can now reach America. Both resent the U.S.’s actions in Syria and share an intense suspicion that the U.S.is attempting to foment color revolutions overseas to eliminate unwanted political leaders. On Wednesday at a special UN Security Council meeting, USA envoy Nikki Haley warned that her country could use its “considerable military forces” against North Korea, if diplomacy failed.

Additionally, Beijing has complained about Washington putting unilateral sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals for their dealings with North Korea. But in doing so the USA will need to convince China and Russian Federation of the merits of stronger action against the regime.

Because North Korea imports most of its oil from China, Beijing is seen holding significant leverage to punish Pyongyang for pursuing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Pyongyang stated last week the Hwasong-14 flew 580 miles at a maximum altitude of 1,740 miles, and claimed the launch was a “successful” demonstration of ICBM capability. The country fired four missiles into the sea east of the peninsula on June 8, which the South Korean military believes were surface-to-ship cruise missiles.

During the Security Council meeting last Wednesday, Haley said some options to strengthen United Nations sanctions were to restrict the flow of oil to North Korea’s military and weapons programs, increasing air and maritime restrictions and imposing targeted sanctions on senior officials.