US to Work Closely With S Korea, Japan After Latest N Korean Missile Launch

The US authorities will continue to work closely with counterparts in Japan and South Korea after the failed intermediate-range ballistic missile launch by North Korea, US Strategic Command spokesperson Martin O’Donnell told Sputnik on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, an attempt by North Korea to launch a missile failed.

"The men and women of US STRATCOM, NORAD [North American Aerospace Defense Command] and US Northern Command, and US Pacific Command remain vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and are fully committed to working closely with our Republic of Korea and Japanese allies to maintain security," O’Donnell stated.

Tensions over North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs escalated after Pyongyang said on January 6 that it had successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test and put a satellite into orbit on February 7, violating UN Security Council resolutions and triggering condemnation from the international community in both cases.