Pyongyang's IRBM launch did not pose threat to US - Pentagon

WASHINGTON, Aug 29 (KUNA) -- The Pentagon said Tuesday that initial assessments indicate that the recent North Korean ballistic missile that flew over Japan was an intermediate range ballistic range missile (IRBM) and that it did not pose a threat to the US.
The Pentagon indicated in a statement that "initial assessment indicates the launch of an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM)." It added "we are working with our interagency partners on a more detailed assessment." It affirmed that "the North American Aerospace Defense Command determined this ballistic missile launch did not pose a threat to North America. US Pacific Command determined this ballistic missile launch did not pose a threat to Guam." "We continue to monitor North Korea's actions closely," it remarked.
The Pentagon reiterated "our commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, remains ironclad." "We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation," it stressed.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said earlier today that "threatening and destabilizing actions only increase the North Korean regime's isolation in the region and among all nations of the world." "All options are on the table," he warned.
For her part, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley tweeted that Pyongyang's missile launch "was unacceptable." "We along with Japan and South Korea have called for a SC (Security Council) meeting to talk about what is left to do," she indicated.
Furthermore, Haley told reporters at the UN headquarters "no country should have missiles flying over them like those 130 million people in Japan. It's unacceptable." She added that North Korea has "violated every single UN Security Council resolution that we've had and so I think something serious has to happen." "I think enough is enough," she remarked.
"We are going to talk about what else is left to do to North Korea," Haley noted, referring to the emergency UNSC meeting scheduled for today to discuss the latest North Korea missile test. (end) si