WASHINGTON, D.C. – North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, potentially putting mainland United States at risk of attack and prompting an emergency United Nations meeting.
In a statement, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States “strongly condemns North Korea’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Testing an ICBM represents a new escalation of the threat to the United States, our allies and partners, the region, and the world.
“Global action is required to stop a global threat. Any country that hosts North Korean guest workers, provides any economic or military benefits, or fails to fully implement UN Security Council resolutions is aiding and abetting a dangerous regime. All nations should publicly demonstrate to North Korea that there are consequences to their pursuit of nuclear weapons. We intend to bring North Korea’s provocative action before the UN Security Council and enact stronger measures to hold the DPRK accountable.
“The United States seeks only the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the end of threatening actions by North Korea. As we, along with others, have made clear, we will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea.”
President Trump took notice of the missile launch, saying “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!”
“The President and his national security team are continuing to assess the situation in close coordination with our allies and partners”, Tillerson’s statement concluded. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, blamed the rogue nation for ruining her holiday, tweeting “Spending my 4th in meetings all day. #ThanksNorthKorea.” She also tweeted “The U.S., Japan & S.Korea have called for an open emergency meeting of the Security Council regarding N.Korea’s ICBM launch.” The meeting will be held Wednesday.
In response, The United States and its close ally, South Korea exercised a joint ballistic missile drill.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/882061157900718081
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/882062572081512449
#DOD statement on #NorthKorea #ICBM launch ..demonstrates that #DPRK poses threat to US/allies. We conducted combined exercise w #ROK today
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) July 4, 2017
Spending my 4th in meetings all day. #ThanksNorthKorea
— Archive: Ambassador Nikki Haley (@AmbNikkiHaley) July 4, 2017
The U.S., Japan & S.Korea have called for an open emergency meeting of the Security Council regarding N.Korea's ICBM launch. pic.twitter.com/VlCamPpWIq
— Archive: Ambassador Nikki Haley (@AmbNikkiHaley) July 4, 2017
Amb Haley requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting on North Korea in response to ballistic missile launch. Session tmrw afternoon
— Jonathan Wachtel (@wachteltweet) July 4, 2017