A day after Pyongyang announced the launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Friday that the United States would work with its allies to deter North Korea from “aggression”.
“We are resolutely united in a common defense and we ensure that we do everything possible to deter and defend against any aggression,” Blinken said during his meeting with Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers in Jakarta.
South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin noted that the test of a new ballistic missile came just as regional powers were meeting for talks in Jakarta, where North Korea has sent an official.
“What North Korea is doing is completely against the expectations of the international community,” Park Jin said. “I hope our trilateral dialogue today will strengthen our resolve to respond firmly and resolutely – unequivocally – to North Korea’s continued provocations and send the message that their provocations will not go unpunished,” he said. added.
North Korea said leader Kim Jong-Un personally supervised the launch of the missile, which Pyongyang had fired only once before, in April.
The launch was a “big bang” that shook “the entire planet,” KCNA wrote. North Korea has refused offers from President Joe Biden’s administration for talks, after Kim was able to hold historic summits with former President Donald Trump.