CGTN America
This combination of Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, images provided by the North Korean government on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, shows what the North Korean government calls the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile, in North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: “KCNA” which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is facing backlash for its latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Pyongyang appears to be advancing its weapons program — despite threats of more sanctions and military action from the international community.
CGTN’s Nathan King examined the global response.
While the international community has been united in its condemnation of DPRK’s biggest intercontinental ballistic missile test to date- it’s sharply divided on what the response should be. Russia is openly questioning U.S. motives after Washington’s United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley talked of war and destroying the government of the DPRK.
The U.S. also wants Moscow and Beijing to consider an oil embargo against Pyongyang. China has condemned the latest missile launch and supports tougher U.N. sanctions but it also wants a pathway to talks… not just more sanctions which could raise tensions further.
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In the meantime, there is a growing realization in Washington that the DPRK problem cannot be solved by Beijing alone. In the early part of the Trump administration, the U.S. essentially said China could fix the problem, but in his latest tweet on the issue, President Trump writes…“The Chinese envoy, who just returned from North Korea, seems to have had no impact on Little Rocket Man. Hard to believe his people, and the military, put up with living in such horrible conditions. Russia and China condemned the launch.”
The Chinese Envoy, who just returned from North Korea, seems to have had no impact on Little Rocket Man. Hard to believe his people, and the military, put up with living in such horrible conditions. Russia and China condemned the launch.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 30, 2017
While all major powers agree the DPRK must stop testing and denuclearize, Pyongyang shows no signs of doing so. The DPRK appears close to getting what it says it needs for its security… a small but potentially effective nuclear arsenal that it believes can deter the U.S. and its allies in the region.
