The brutal regime of young despot Kim Jong-un fired yet another missile from Pyongyang on Monday evening, this time crossing Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido in the boldest show of force from the DPRK of recent years.
Now the chairmen of both South Korea and the US Joint Chiefs of Staff have agreed “to take response measures at the earliest possible time that can demonstrate the alliance’s strong will including military measures”, the South Korean military have confirmed.
The commitment to respond with force to the Kim regime could see the Trump administration dragged into a conflict on the Korean peninsula, where many members of Trump’s military are based.
And while it is currently unclear what military response will be carried out, it signals a serious ramping up of rhetoric from the two allies as they face off with the Kim regime in an ongoing war of words.
A South Korean defence ministry official said there was no immediate plan to change joint military drills being conducted by the South Korean and US militaries – which are believed to have prompted a series of missile launches from the north.
Shortly after the missile launch UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has expressed his outrage over the “reckless provocation” of North Korea after the hermit kingdom fired a missile over the north of Japan.
His comments come amid claims the UK could join the fray against the North Korean tyrant.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Mr Johnson said: “Outraged at reckless provocation by North Korea.
“Strongly condemn latest illegal missile launch by DPRK.”
It is not the first time that the UK Foreign Secretary has condemned a North Korean missile launch.
Last month, he said that the UK would “confront the growing threat” of North Korea following an ICBM launch by its tyrannical regime.
Following that launch, he said: “The UK strongly condemns North Korea’s second test of an intercontinental ballistic missile and calls on the regime to immediately stop all activity that breaches UN Security Council resolutions.
“The UK will stand alongside our allies and partners as we confront the growing threat North Korea poses to regional and international security.
“Once again North Korea shows no regard for its international obligations.
“We urge the DPRK regime to put the well-being of its own people ahead of the illegal pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.”