Global Geo-political Series: North Korea test fires ballistic missile ahead of G20 meeting

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un once again defied global pressure, especially from the United States as his regime test-fired another ballistic missile ahead of this week’s G20 meeting, where the leaders are expected to discuss the North Korean situation. North Korea fired an "unidentified ballistic missile" from a province near the border with China on Tuesday, South Korea's military said. The launch took place just days after the South's new President Moon Jae-In and US President Donald Trump focused on de-escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula in their first meeting.

The latest updates are suggesting that the North Korean missile flew more than 930 km before landing in the Sea of Japan. While the U.S. Pacific Command said in a statement that the missile was tracked for 37 minutes and was a land-based intermediate range ballistic missile, North Korea is claiming that it has successfully test-launched its first ever intercontinental ballistic missile. Shortly after the launch, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said today’s missile launch by North Korea is a clear indication that North Korea’s threat is escalating, and added that North Korea has ignored repeated warnings by the international community.  Abe said confirmed strong ties with U.S. after speaking to President Donald Trump yesterday and called on China and Russia to play a more constructive role in de-escalating the issue.

In response to North Korea’s latest missile launch, President Trump tweeted, “North Korea has just launched another missile. Does this guy have anything better to do with his life? Hard to believe that South Korea..... ....and Japan will put up with this much longer. Perhaps China will put a heavy move on North Korea and end this nonsense once and for all!”