North Korea got Wednesday off with a bang, firing its first intercontinental ballistic missile in four months, in defiance of President Trump’s warnings to halt its weapons program and his decision to once again list the country as a state sponsor of terrorism.
The president's reaction to the launch was a little more sober than in the past, when he lobbed insults at the North’s leader, Kim Jong-un and threatened “fire and fury” that would “totally destroy” the North.
“We will take care of it,” he told reporters in Washington. “It is a situation that we will handle.”
Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo issued a statement about the launch; the missile traveled about 620 miles before splashing down in the Sea of Japan.
“While Guam remains safe, the recent missile launch by North Korea underscores the continued need for diplomatic engagement to diffuse tensions in the region. It is unacceptable that North Korea continues to make advancements to its illicit nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and I hope the Trump Administration will work with the international community to peacefully resolve these threats. I remain confident in the DoD’s capabilities to keep Guam and our allies in the region safe and protected.”