U.S. Secretary of State Calls for Global Action Against North Korea

Following North Korea's intercontinental missile test, Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, has urged the global community to respond comprehensively to this issue. Meanwhile, the North Korean leader has stated that he will not negotiate with the U.S. until it ceases its so-called 'hostile policies.' South Korea and the U.S. have launched missiles into the sea to demonstrate their 'military capability.' On Tuesday, North Korea announced that it successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile. Several U.S. officials have also confirmed the test of the 'intercontinental missile.' In response, Rex Tillerson stated on July 4 that 'all countries must publicly show North Korea that pursuing nuclear weapons will have consequences.' According to the U.S. Secretary of State, 'a global action is necessary to counter this global threat.' Tillerson remarked that 'any country that employs North Korean workers, provides economic or military assistance to this country, or fails to fully implement UN resolutions is aiding and participating in the actions of a dangerous regime.' Although Tillerson did not name specific countries, it appears that his comments are aimed at Russia and China, both of which have allowed some North Korean workers to work on their soil and maintain economic relations with Pyongyang. The U.S. Secretary of State emphasized that his country 'will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea.' Concurrently, the South Korean and U.S. military have launched missiles into the sea to demonstrate their military capability. The U.S. military stated that 'highly capable and precise attack capabilities allow the U.S. and South Korea to respond to dangerous targets at any time and under any weather conditions.' The South Korean Ministry of Defense has indicated that the likelihood of a new nuclear test by North Korea is very high. According to Yonhap, the South Korean news agency, Han Min-koo, the defense minister, stated that North Korea's ultimate goal is to enhance its military capability with nuclear power, thus increasing the likelihood of a new nuclear test. North Korea has claimed that the tested missile is capable of carrying a large nuclear warhead. Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, stated that this successful test has completed the strategic weapons capacity of his country, which now includes intercontinental ballistic missiles in addition to atomic and hydrogen bombs. Since Kim Jong-un came to power, North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests and over seventy missile tests with ranges of less than two thousand kilometers and more than two thousand kilometers. The total number of missile tests during Kim Jong-un's leadership is nearly four times greater than the tests recorded before his ascension. Kim Jong-un has stated that his government is 'not willing to negotiate with Washington' until the U.S. stops its so-called 'hostile policies.' The North Korean state news agency quoted the leader as saying, 'With a smile as wide as his face, he told officials, scientists, and staff that the U.S. will be upset because it received a gift full of presents on Independence Day.' The recent test by North Korea occurred on U.S. Independence Day while the U.S. was on holiday. Kim Jong-un's reference to a 'gift' for the United States seems to hark back to his previous statements. Last month, Kim mentioned that Pyongyang 'plans to send a bigger gift package' to the United States. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, stated that 'maintaining the unity of the international community to address this serious challenge is very important.' The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting today. The U.S., Japan, and South Korea have requested the meeting. Reports indicate that Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, the presidents of China and Russia, met on Tuesday and discussed the North Korean issue. Earlier, Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, reported that Putin and Xi 'agreed on the necessity of achieving a proper solution to the issues on the Korean Peninsula through negotiation and dialogue.' In recent years, there have been numerous reports and analyses regarding North Korea's efforts to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles. So far, these efforts have not yielded results, although intelligence officials, including those in South Korea, have stated that Pyongyang has made 'significant steps' in this direction. Since Kim Jong-un's leadership began, North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests and over seventy missile tests with ranges of less than two thousand kilometers and more than two thousand kilometers. The number of missiles launched during Kim Jong-un's leadership since 2011 is nearly four times greater than the tests recorded before his ascension. The North Korean leader has threatened the U.S. and South Korea with a 'preemptive nuclear strike.' Pyongyang claims that U.S. military activities alongside South Korea and Japan pose a threat to its regime and are rehearsals for its overthrow. U.S. officials have repeatedly warned North Korea about being prepared to respond to what they describe as military movements by Pyongyang, denying that the exercises with South Korea and Japan are preparations for an attack, stating that the purpose of the drills is 'defensive.'