The US president had vowed that “won’t happen”, but independent experts said it could reach Alaska or even further towards the continental US. It will require a reassessment of the threat posed by the nuclear-armed North, which has carried out five atomic tests and said the multi-stage rocket’s warhead could survive atmospheric re-entry to strike a target. Amid international condemnation of the test, South Korean and US military forces launched short-range ballistic missiles of their own less than 24 hours afterwards from the peninsula into the Sea of Japan. “As this alliance missile live fire shows, we are able to change our choice when so ordered by our alliance national leaders.”The two countries are in a security alliance, with 28,500 US troops stationed in the South to protect it. The launches came hours after a joint appeal by the presidents of China and Russia for all sides to exercise restraint and ease tensions.

Source: Manila Times July 05, 2017 14:26 UTC