TRUMP CALLS FOR TOUGHER SANCTIONS AFTER NORTH KOREA MISSILE
This undated picture released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on March 7, 2017 shows the launch of four ballistic missiles by the Korean People's Army (KPA) during a military drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea. PHOTO | AFP
The missile flew more than 700 kilometres (435 miles) before landing in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), surrounded by the Korean peninsula, Japan and the Russian far east.
New South Korean President Moon Jae-In, who was inaugurated on Wednesday, slammed the missile test as a "reckless provocation" after holding an emergency meeting with national security advisors.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping discussed the Korean peninsula situation on the sidelines of the meeting and "both parties expressed their concern over the escalation of tensions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
President Donald Trump called for tougher sanctions against North Korea after it fired a ballistic missile Sunday in an apparent bid to test the South's new liberal president and the US.
"Let this latest provocation serve as a call for all nations to implement far stronger sanctions against North Korea," the White House said in a brief statement.
The missile flew more than 700 kilometres (435 miles) before landing in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), surrounded by the Korean peninsula, Japan and the Russian far east.
It impacted "so close to Russian soil ... the president cannot imagine that Russia is pleased," the White House said.
North Korea "has been a flagrant menace for far too long," it said.
China, which has been under growing pressure from Washington to help rein in North Korea, called for restraint.
"All relevant parties should exercise restraint and refrain from further aggravating tensions in the region," the foreign ministry said.
Multiple sets of UN and US sanctions against North Korea have done little to deter Pyongyang from pursuing its nuclear and missile ambitions.
Before the missile test, the US Treasury said it was considering "every tool in our arsenal" to cut off sources of international financing for illegal activities in the North.
Trump has threatened military action but recently appeared to have softened his stance, saying he would be "honoured" to meet leader Kim Jong-Un under the right conditions.
New South Korean President Moon Jae-In, who was inaugurated on Wednesday, slammed the missile test as a "reckless provocation" after holding an emergency meeting with national security advisors.
He said the government strongly condemned this "grave challenge to the peace and security of the Korean peninsula and the international community," his spokesman Yoon Young-Chan said.
SEEKING LEVERAGE
Moon, unlike his conservative predecessors, advocates reconciliation with Pyongyang but warned Sunday that dialogue would be possible "only if the North changes its attitude".
Moon had said in his inauguration speech that he was willing to visit Pyongyang "in the right circumstances" to defuse tensions on the Korean peninsula.
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