The missile, which landed just 200 kilometers off Japan, was capable of reaching the United States mainland, Japanese officials said. Meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Bangkok, US Vice President Kamala Harris called the launch a “brazen violation” of several UN resolutions and said North Korea’s actions destabilize security in the region. The North’s continuing spate of weapons tests aims to advance its nuclear arsenal and win greater concessions in potential diplomacy, and the launches come as China and Russia have opposed US moves for tougher sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear program of North Korea. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a meeting with allies about North Korea’s recent ballistic missile launch during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok on Friday. (Haiyun Jiang/Pool/AFP/Getty Images) South Korea’s General Staff said it detected the launch of an ICBM from the North Korean capital around 10:15 am. and the gun flew to the east coast of the North across the country. Japan said the ICBM appeared to have flown into a high orbit and landed west of Hokkaido. The South Korean military predicted the missile reached an altitude of 6,100 kilometers and flew 1,000 kilometers at a maximum speed of Mach 22.
Trudeau condemns missile launch
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said North Korea’s move should be condemned “from all quarters around the world,” while his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese said the missile launches were “reckless actions.” “We stand with the world, and indeed with our allies, in opposing and condemning this action in the strongest possible terms,” Albanese said. South Korean Prime Minister Han Dak-soo said the North’s activities were illegal and “will never be tolerated,” calling for a united front and a decisive response. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said such launches have been taking place with “unprecedentedly high frequency” in recent times. “There is a possibility that North Korea will launch further missiles,” he warned. The incident came a day after the North fired a smaller missile and warned of “tougher military responses” to the US as it bolsters its regional security presence.
