Kim Jong Un of North Korea has announced a “new birth” for the North Korea’s sector after he attended the ticket tests. The move comes as President Xi Jinping met the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Tillerson has just concluded his tour of East Asia and met China’s President in a bid to improve diplomatic relations between the United States and China. Tillerson is hoping that the Chinese, Kim Jong Un’s sole allies, will step in to stop the development of North Korea’s nuclear program.
North Korea’s state media released reports that the country’s president had attended tests for a newly completed high-thrust engine that was used to propel rockets. The engine was tested at the Sohae Launch site. The country’s media went on to report that the tests were very successful. Additionally, the reports said that the engine would be used to launch rockets for the country’s satellites as well as for their space program.
The United Nations banned North Korea from conducting long-range missile tests. However, the country has stated that the rockets it is testing are for peaceful purposes and as such would not break the pact. In line with the test, a jubilant Kim Jong Un made a statement to the press and people of North Korea. He said that the “whole world will soon witness what eventful significance the great victory won today carries.”
The North Korean government has put in place a major five-year plan for the country’s technological advancement. It plans for the launch and testing of more Earth observation satellites as well as the country’s first geostationary communications satellite.
However, the international community has taken North Korea’s claims that these tests are for peaceful use with a pinch of salt. Earlier on in the month, the country launched four banned ballistic missiles. The move was apparently in response to military drills by the US and South Korean troops, which North Korea said were a threat to the country. However, intelligence reports said that the missiles were being tested as preparation for an attack on a United States Army base in Japan. The missiles landed as near as 190 miles off Japan’s coast.
The United States has been very vocal against North Korea’s missile tests. After the country’s previous launch within the month, US President Donald Trump scheduled an emergency UN meeting regarding the threat North Korea’s missiles posed and their continuing production of nuclear weapons. This time, Trump said that North Korea was “behaving very badly.” He also expressed criticism towards the lack of action from China so as to stop North Korea from conducting the tests.
However, none of this was mentioned in the statements between Tillerson and President Xi. Instead, they focused on fostering the relationship between China and the US. President Xi said he was appreciative of the will by the US to have a fruitful relationship with them. Speaking for the President, Tillerson said Trump placed a “very high value on the communications that have already occurred, and he looks forward to enhancing that understanding in the opportunity for a visit in the future.”
Tillerson also said the two countries would cooperate on the threat that North Korea poses.
