North Korea’s latest missile launch ends in failure

North Korea has been showing off its missile power through numerous missile tests in the recent months. The latest came on Wednesday when a missile was fired from its Wonsan air base in the east coast. But this time around things didn’t go according to plan. The test ended in failure as the missile exploded right after launch. Both South Korean Defense Ministry and U.S. Pacific Command confirmed. The failure comes right after North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong un boasted that North Korea was ready for war. He had earlier claimed that they are in the last stages of developing a fully functional missile system that could hit targets in the US when launched. The failed missile test will be a humiliation for him.

South Korea and the US has been the focus of these demonstrations by North Korea, and in the wake of repeated provocations, the two allies have decided to take strong punitive actions against the North Korean regime. Kim Hong-Kyun, South Korea’s special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, and his U.S. counterpart Joseph Yun reiterated during their meeting that the two countries are committed to increase pressure on pyongyangtill North Korea agrees to drop its recent push for nuclear weaponry.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Kim Hong-Kyun and Joseph Yun agreed that UN sanctions against Pyongyang should be strictly implemented by all countries including China. They also pointed out the importance of isolating the country diplomatically and economically by shutting down its foreign currency sources and limiting the activity of North Koreans living abroad.

The Donald Trump administration has taken a harder line with North Korea. This is clear from the comments of President Donald Trump as well as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. US is also exploring options for sweeping economic sanctions against North Korea. China, one of the only allies that North Korea has, is not very pleased with these developments and has advised restraint.

According to CNN at a news briefing after the launch on Wednesday, Hua Chunying, foreign ministry spokeswoman for China, cautioned the U.S. and other concerned countries to “exercise restraint,”.”The current situation on the peninsula is extremely tense — ‘everyone with his dagger drawn’ would be a fair description,” Hua said.

(Writing by Ananya Dutta; Editing by Mohith Agadi)