S. Korea: North Korea preparing more missile launches

South Korea says it believes that the North is preparing more missile launches, including the possibility of an intercontinental ballistic missile, according to multiple reports.

After carrying out live-fire exercises over the weekend, South Korea said it was strengthening its controversial U.S.-made Thaad missile defense system after Pyongyang announced a successful test of a nuclear bomb.

“We have continued to see signs of possibly more ballistic missile launches. We also forecast North Korea could fire an intercontinental ballistic missile,” South Korea defense ministry official Chang Kyung-soo said.

The nuclear test Sunday by Kim Jong Un’s regime had an estimated strength of 50 kilotons, defense ministry officials said Monday. That would make it five times larger than the North’s previous test in September2016.

President Trump said “we’ll see” on Sunday when asked whether the U.S. will attack North Korea after reports of the hydrogen bomb test.

The president responded to North Korea’s announcement on Twitter earlier on Sunday. 

North Korea has conducted a major Nuclear Test. Their words and actions continue to be very hostile and dangerous to the United States…..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2017 

..North Korea is a rogue nation which has become a great threat and embarrassment to China, which is trying to help but with little success.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2017

South Korea is finding, as I have told them, that their talk of appeasement with North Korea will not work, they only understand one thing!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2017  

Trump then raised the possibility of taking new actions targeting North Korea in the wake of Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test.

“The United States is considering, in addition to other options, stopping all trade with any country doing business with North Korea,” Trump tweeted Sunday.

The United States is considering, in addition to other options, stopping all trade with any country doing business with North Korea.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2017

China warned North Korea against possible plans to launch another missile, saying it should make the situation worse, but said Trump’s trade threat was “unacceptable.”