Japan to extend missile shield after N. Korea threatens Guam

The announcement was made through The Global Times newspaper.

“The current situation on the Korean Peninsula is highly complicated and sensitive”.

Even though Turnbull has clashed with Trump this year over Australia’s refugee-resettlement policy, the prime minister has declared his nation’s partnership with its major ally unshakable.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she doesn’t see a military solution to rising tensions between the United States and North Korea and called for a de-escalation of the rhetoric.

China’s Foreign Ministry called on all sides to speak and act with caution.

In the same speech, Trump said he’d favor talks with the hostile nation and more action on the diplomatic front than his White House predecessors. The North said it is finalizing a plan to fire four of its Hwasong-12 missiles over Japan and into waters around the tiny island, which hosts 7,000 USA military personnel on two main bases and has a population of 160,000.

Since then, North Korea has threatened to bomb the US Pacific territory of Guam, saying that a plan to fire four missiles near Guam would be ready for Kim Jong-un’s consideration within days.

North Korea did not threaten Guam with a nuclear attack, but the crisis between Pyongyang and the United States has stirred fears that a nuclear conflict could break out in the region.

The President’s comments are the latest in the war of words between the two nations.

As Johns Hopkins University’s 38 North website noted on Thursday, North Korea did actually appear to suggest last month that it was open to getting rid of its nukes and rockets “if the US hostile policy and nuclear threat to [North Korea] are definitely terminated”.

The Chinese statement came after Trump also criticized Beijing, saying it could “do a lot more” to pressure Kim to end his country’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

Trump also mentioned that he will push for more funding to go towards anti-missile defense due to the threat of North Korea and other countries.

Greeting them on the North Korean side are dozens of tour buses, collecting them for itineraries ranging from a day in neighbouring Sinijiu to a week visiting North Korea’s main cities, including the capital Pyongyang.

Also Read: That Time Trump Said He’d “Negotiate Like Crazy” With North Korea.

The exercise, known as Northern Viper 17, will take place on Hokkaido – Japan’s northern-most main island – and will last until August 28. Mr Yun is the only United States diplomat in contact with any North Korean counterpart.

Meanwhile, a Pentagon spokesman said a joint military exercise between the US and South Korea was expected to start, as planned, on 21 August. On Thursday, Trump fired off two tweets, asking his followers whether they can believe McConnell, after “screaming” about repeal and replacement for seven years, was unable to pass an Obamacare repeal.

Donald Trump said his administration will be increasing their military budget by many billions of dollars because of the North Korean threat and other reasons.

Asian stocks slumped on Friday as tensions ramped up, sending investors into less risky assets such as gold, the yen and United States government bonds.

“This situation is beginning to develop into this generation’s Cuban Missile crisis moment”, ING’s chief Asia economist Robert Carnell said in a research note.

It also called for the U.S. president to acknowledge the power of the constitution and seek its approval before launching war.

The UN recently approved further economic sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons programme.