(Adjourned at 10,20am Sunday 16th April) North Korea tries but fails to launch a new missile: it exploded immediately after take-off.
Trump does not speak and responds to the latest provocation from Pyongyang with a "no comment" conveyed by the Pentagon. South Korea and the United States are busy obtaining more information on the type of missile used. And just on Sunday morning, US Vice President Pence arrived in Seoul, South Korea.
The explosion of the North Korean rocket, which took place on the launch pad, demonstrates that Pyongyang does not have the means to counter US power but, on the other hand, leaves open the possibility that it still wants to try or that in the meantime it aims to hit Seoul, a much closer and within range target by hand. The Korean leader, held back by China, nonetheless wanted to demonstrate that he can do harm by parading nuclear missiles during the parade that commemorated his grandfather and founder of the state on Saturday.
What will the United States do now? They don't seem to want to take up the provocation. “The president and his military team are aware of North Korea's most recent missile launch, which was unsuccessful,” said Pentagon chief Mattis. The president has no further comments." Now the question is whether, as in the case of Syria, Trump will decide to react to the provocation using force.
US Vice President Mike Pence begins a 10-day tour of Asia in Seoul and was briefed on the failed Korean missile launch attempt during the trip.
Pence's visit is intended to comfort Asia's allies at a critical moment in the confrontation with North Korea. The vice president, who is accompanied by his wife and two eldest daughters, will see South Korean premier Hwang Kyo-ahn, who performs presidential duties, after the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye pending elections in May.
Pence, the son of a Korean War veteran (1950-53), whose Bronze Star he retains in office, will among other things lay a wreath at the National Cemetery in the South Korean capital and then join the American and South Korean troops for the Easter celebrations. He will then be in Tokyo on Tuesday, where he will meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, another strategic ally.
