North Korea’s launches on February 26 and March 4 were aimed at testing “elements of a new system” of intercontinental ballistic missiles, a senior White House official said Thursday, speaking of “serious escalation” .
“These firings are certainly intended to test elements of this new system before North Korea does a full-range launch, which they might try to pass off as a space launch,” he added. Pyongyang had already assured after these firings in late February and early March that these were satellite development tests.
“One voice” to oppose North Korea
In response to these new tests, the United States will announce measures on Friday to “prevent North Korea from having access to foreign products and technologies allowing it to develop its prohibited weapons programs”, and “other actions will follow in the coming days,” said the source, who requested anonymity.
“The United States has decided to make this information public and to share it with our allies and partners because we prioritize the reduction of strategic risks and because we firmly believe that the international community must speak with one voice. to oppose future development of such weapons by North Korea,” the official said. “We continue to seek diplomatic dialogue and are ready for an unconditional meeting” with the North Koreans, he nevertheless added.
“Learn some manners” from Kim Jong Un
Washington and its partners failed at the beginning of the week to have the UN Security Council adopt a text against North Korea, stumbling over opposition from Russia and China.
Despite harsh international sanctions for its nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests, Pyongyang has so far rejected all offers of dialogue since the breakdown in 2019 of talks between leader Kim Jong Un and then US President Donald Trump.
North Korea has stepped up modernization of its military, and warned in January that it could lift a self-imposed moratorium on testing long-range missiles and nuclear weapons.
The announcement of the United States also comes just after the presidential victory in South Korea of Yoon Suk-yeol, who wants to toughen his tone against North Korea. The new South Korean president, whom Joe Biden called on Thursday to congratulate him, thus promised himself to “learn a few manners” from Kim Jong Un.