US Wants More Aggressive Response To North Korea's Missile Launch
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- President Donald Trump hoped China would step in to stop North Korea's nuclear pursuits. That plan is not working.
The president is not hiding his frustration after the North showed the new reach of its missiles. Now, the Trump administration is calling for a more aggressive global response.
The United Nations Security Council was holding an emergency meeting to discuss North Korea's successful launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that has the ability to reach Alaska.
"This action is yet another brazen violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions and constitutes a dangerous escalation of the situation," said Miroslav Jenca, Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations.
China and Russia blocked new sanctions against North Korea.
"All must acknowledge that sanctions will not resolve the issue," said Vladimir Safronkov, Russian Deputy Ambassador to the U.N.
They also called on the U.S. to withdraw a missile defense system deployed to South Korea. The Trump administration and South Korea fired missiles Wednesday warning the North they will not be passive as North Korea develops a nuclear weapon.
"The United States is prepared to use the full range of our capabilities to defend ourselves and our allies. One of our capabilities lies with our considerable military forces. We will use them, if we must," said Nikki Haley the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.
President Trump is in Europe for meetings with world leaders and a G-20 summit focused on the global economy. Now the growing threat of North Korea is front and center.
"I've been watching North Korea for a long time and I'm surprised they've been able to pull out new missile designs, launch them and, despite having a few failures, do relatively well," said David Wright with the Union of Concerned Scientists.
The Pentagon described North Korea's latest launch as escalatory and destabilizing but added the U.S. military is capable of defending the country from this threat.
South Korean President Moon Jae-In said he would like to see more sanctions against North Korea and adds that the problem needs to be solved through peaceful means.