North Korea’s February 26 and March 4 launches were designed to test “elements of a new system” of intercontinental ballistic missiles, a senior White House official said Thursday, referring to a “major escalation.”
“These launches are certainly designed to test elements of this new system before North Korea does a full-range launch, which they may try to pass off as a space launch,” he added. Pyongyang has already assured after these launches in late February and early March that these were satellite tests.
“One vote” against North Korea
In response to these new tests, the United States will announce on Friday measures to “prevent North Korea from accessing foreign products and technologies that enable it to develop its banned weapons programs” and “more actions will follow in the coming days.” said a source who wished to remain anonymous.
“The United States has chosen to make this information public and share it with our allies and partners because we prioritize strategic risk reduction and because we firmly believe that the international community must speak with one voice to counter the future development of such weapons. North Korea,” the official said. “We continue to seek diplomatic dialogue and are ready for an unconditional meeting” with the North Koreans, he added nonetheless.
“Learn manners” from Kim Jong-un
Washington and its partners at the beginning of the week failed to get the UN Security Council to adopt a text against North Korea, stumbling over the opposition of Russia and China.
Despite tough international sanctions for testing nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles, Pyongyang has so far rejected all offers of dialogue after the breakdown in 2019 of talks between leader Kim Jong-un and then-US President Donald Trump.
North Korea stepped up modernization of its military and warned in January that it could lift a voluntary moratorium on testing long-range missiles and nuclear weapons.
The United States’ announcement also came immediately after Yun Seok-yeol’s victory in the South Korean presidential election, who wants to toughen his tone on North Korea. The new South Korean president, whom Joe Biden called on Thursday to congratulate him, promised himself to “learn some manners” from Kim Jong-un.