North Korea launched 'one missile, three targets'?

Is North Korea's missile test intended to warn the US-China-Japan triumvirate in its recent moves?

North Korea conducted a ballistic missile test early on February 12. This was the first missile test since US President Donald Trump took office.

This ballistic missile test by North Korea was identified as a medium-range ballistic missile. According to the announcement of the US Department of Defense, the systems of the US Strategic Command monitored the missile launch by North Korea in the area near the city of Kusong, Northwest of Korea, and detected this missile heading towards the Sea of ​​Japan.

North Korea's ballistic missile test came as President Trump had a phone call with President Xi Jinping earlier and a day after Trump held a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the US.

The US-China-Japan triumvirate suppresses North Korea

According to the White House's response, the Trump administration is reviewing this missile test and will consider a series of next moves against North Korea, prioritizing the consideration of reducing tensions on the North Korea issue.

South Korea's Defense Ministry said the North Korean launch could be a provocation aimed at "testing the response" of the new US administration. A White House official said US President Donald Trump had been briefed on the missile launch and the White House was continuing to closely monitor the situation.

According to sources, the Trump administration also wants to increase pressure on China on the North Korea issue to partly resolve tensions in Pyongyang.

“It is not surprising that North Korea is constantly looking to draw attention to itself under any circumstances,” the source said.

This missile test took place during a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and after a phone call between Mr. Trump and President Xi Jinping.

“I just want people to understand and know that the United States stands with Japan and is a true ally. That’s 100% for sure,” Mr. Trump told reporters at Palm Beach, Florida.

For his part, Prime Minister Abe, who is on a visit to the US, declared North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch "unacceptable".

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on February 12 that the country had sent a diplomatic note of protest to North Korea over the missile launch that morning.

Speaking at an emergency press conference, Mr. Suga said the missile appeared to have fallen into the Sea of ​​Japan but was not within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). He affirmed that the launch, which took place right after the US-Japan summit, proved that this was an act of provocation to Japan and the region. According to the head of the Japanese Cabinet Office, China plays a key role in all efforts to contain North Korea's missile program.

China is an ally of North Korea but is also “troubled” by Pyongyang’s provocations. Beijing is constantly under pressure from Washington to suppress North Korea and its leader Kim Jong Un.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has yet to respond to this incident.

According to information from the White House, Mr. Trump and his colleagues have made a series of moves to address this issue, possibly applying sanctions through tightening financial controls, increasing US naval and air equipment exercises on and around the Korean peninsula, and building a new missile defense system in South Korea.

However, sources also emphasized that this ballistic missile test was not an ICBM test and Pyongyang did not conduct a new nuclear test. This also somewhat reduced Washington's escalating tensions with Pyongyang.

“That's not going to happen”

Mr Trump has pledged to take action against North Korea, but there has been no clear sign of a departure from the Obama-era policy of patience. In January, Mr Trump tweeted: “No way!” after Mr Kim Jong Un said North Korea would conduct an ICBM test.

The South Korean Defense Ministry said the missile was fired at about 7:55 a.m. (local time), with a range of about 3,000 km.

“This incident partly shows North Korea's strength against the new US administration in the face of tense issues with North Korea,” the South Korean defense ministry said.

In its latest response, the South Korean Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning North Korea's missile test, affirming that this action seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and is a blatant violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

According to information, this ballistic missile test has a range of 550 km and is determined to be medium-range. North Korea has had many medium-range ballistic missile tests in recent years, but most of them have failed. Experts from South Korea and the US said that this medium-range missile launch is considered a success for Pyongyang.

According to the Fatherland