UPDATES WITH US, SOUTH KOREAN DEFENSE CHIEF’S COMMENTS
By Alex Jensen
SEOUL / WASHINGTON (AA) – North Korea suffered a second failed mid-range missile launch in less than a week Thursday, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
Based on a joint assessment with close military ally the United States, the JCS said the missile fired Thursday morning “is assumed to be the Musudan”.
The North is believed to have conducted eight tests this year involving its Musudan model, which has a theoretical range of more than 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) but seven of such projectile launches have now reportedly failed due to explosions.
The longest Musudan flight so far was 400 kilometers back in June — well short of a potential target such as an American military base in Guam.
Nevertheless, as the North continues to develop ballistic missiles in defiance of United Nations resolutions, the JCS statement “strongly” condemned the latest launch with Pyongyang yet to discover the extent of new UN sanctions in response to its fifth ever nuclear test last month.
Analysts are expecting North Korea to ramp up provocations in line with next month’s American presidential election.
Thursday’s test coincided with high-level security talks between the U.S. and South Korea in Washington, during which American Secretary of State John Kerry vowed to swiftly press ahead with a contentious plan to deploy a THAAD missile defense battery in the South.
U.S. Defense chief Ash Carter threatened North Korea with “the full spectrum of American military might” while condemning the test.
“Make no mistake, any attack on America or our allies will not only be defeated, but any use of nuclear weapons will be met with an overwhelming and effective response,” Carter said at a joint press conference with South Korean Defense minister Han Min Koo.
Carter said he and his South Korean counterpart agreed to establish “the Extended Deterrent Strategy and Consultation Group” to take additional steps against North Korea.
Han said he was not surprised by the failed test Thursday, noting that North Korea has been launching them since 2007 with out proper requirements.
Han is in Washington for the 48th U.S.- Korea security consultative meetings, a series of annual meeting on military alliance between the two countries.
*AA Washington Correspondent Kasim Ileri contributed to this report
