Seoul, DC to maximise pressure against ‘rogue nation’

SEOUL: South Korean President Moon Jae-in spoke to US President Trump after Wednesday’s missile test by North Korea and the two decided to maximise pressure against the “rogue nation”.
They condemned the launch of the ICBM despite warnings from the international community. South Korean military monitored the Pyongyang Hwasong-15 test that North Korea claimed could hit any target in the US.Moon and Trump discussed issues arising from the missile launch, said an official South Korean spokesman Park Soo-hyun.
The two also agreed to continue their efforts to bring the North to the negotiating table by exerting pressure and sanctions. They termed the missile launch a threat not only to the US and South Korea, but the whole world.
Moon confirmed that an exercise was conducted by his country’s army, navy and air force minutes after the missile launch. South Korean deputy minister of defence policy Yeo Suk-joo said the Korean peninsula was facing a crisis, but believed the problem could be resolved. Yeo said despite nuclear and missile provocation from the North, Seoul is committed to de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.
Many South Korean officials see a link between the provocation by the North and hosting of the Winter Olympics by Pyeongchang in February next year.
They said North Korea had shot down a Korean Airline flight in 1987 killing 115 people including two Indians ahead of the 1988 Summer Olympics at Seoul. During 2002 FIFA world cup, the North Korean navy had killed six South Korean marines and sank its boat.