U.S., allies weigh options after North Korea missile test, says Trump security adviser

The U.S., its allies and China are working together on a range ofresponses to North Korea's latest attempted ballistic missiletest, U.S. President Donald Trump's national security advisersaid on Sunday, citing what he called an international consensusto act.

H.R. McMaster indicated that Trump was not consideringmilitary action for now.

"It's time for us to undertake all actions we can, short ofa military option, to try to resolve this peacefully," he said
on ABC's This Week."We are working together with our allies and partners andwith the Chinese leadership to develop a range of options."

"There is an international consensus now,including the Chinese leadership, that this is a situation thatjust cannot continue," he said.

"This latest missile test just fits into apattern ofprovocative and destabilizing and threatening behaviour on thepart of the North Korean regime,"McMastersaid.

He said the president has asked the national securitycouncil to integrate the efforts of the Defence and Statedepartments and U.S. intelligence agencies to develop options if"this pattern of behaviourcontinues and if the North KoreanRegime refuses to denuclearize."

The Trump administration is focusing its North Korea strategy on tougher economic sanctions, possibly including an oil embargo, a global ban on its airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang,U.S. officials said last week.

While Trump has employed tough rhetoric in response to North Korea's recent missile tests, the new U.S. president's options appear limited in dealing with a challenge that has vexed his Oval Office predecessors.

Most options fall into four categories: economic sanctions, covert action, diplomatic negotiations and military force.

• N. Korea displays new type of ballistic missile at military parade, S. Korea says

The North Korean missile blew up almost immediately after its test launch on Sunday, the U.S. Pacific Command said.

Hours later, U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence landed in South Korea for talks on the North's increasingly defiant arms program. His visit came a day after North Korea held a military parade in its capital, Pyongyang, marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of founding father Kim Il-sung. What appeared to be new long-range ballistic missiles were on display in the parade.

Pencearrived by helicopter Monday local time at a U.S.military base in South Korea next to the highly fortified demilitarized zone at theborder with North Korea.

Rising Tensions

Tensions have risen as Trump takes a hard rhetorical line with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who has rebuffed admonitions from China and proceeded with nuclear and missile programs seen by Washington as a direct threat.

Trump acknowledged on Sunday that the softer line he had taken on China's management of its currency was linked to China's help on the North Korea issue. "Why would I call China a currency manipulator when they are working with us on the North Korean problem? We will see what happens!" Trump said on Twitter.

Trump has backed away from a campaign promise to label China in that way. South Korea said the North's latest show of force "threatened the whole world."

• North Korea attempts, but fails, to launch missile

But a U.S. foreign policy adviser traveling with Pence onAir Force Two sought to defuse some of the tension, saying thetest of what was believed to be a medium-range missile had comeas no surprise.

"We had good intelligence before the launch and goodintelligence after the launch," the adviser told reporters on condition of anonymity.

"It's a failed test. It follows another failed test. Soreally no need to reinforce their failure. We don't need to
expend any resources against that."

The adviser said the missile's flight lasted four or five seconds.

Pence, addressing an Easter service with American troops inSouth Korea, said the U.S. commitment to South Korea wasunwavering.

"Let me assure you under President Trump's leadership, ourresolve has never been stronger. Our commitment to this historicalliance with the courageous people of South Korea has neverbeen stronger."

Pence was beginning a 10-day, four-nation trip to Asia in what his aidessaid was a sign of U.S. commitment to its ally in the face ofmounting tension.

• China warns against war amid North Korea's parade of military might
• N. Korea displays new type of ballistic missile at military parade, S. Korea says

The U.S. nuclear-powered Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group is also heading to the region.

China, which Trump has urged to do more to rein in North Korea, has spoken out against its weapons tests and has supported UN sanctions. It has repeatedly called for talks while appearing increasingly frustrated with the North.

Beijing banned imports of North Korean coal on Feb. 26, cutting off its most important export. China's customs department issued an order on April 7 telling traders to return North Korean coal cargoes, said trading sources with knowledge of the order.

'Hostile regime'

Trump's decision to order a cruise missile strike on a Syrian airfield this month, in response to what he said was Syria's use of chemical weapons, raised questions about his plans for reclusive North Korea.

Pyongyang has conducted several missile and nuclear tests in defiance of UNsanctions, and regularly threatens to destroy South Korea and the U.S.

McMaster told ABC that Trump "has made clear that he will not accept the United States and its allies and partners in the region being under threat from this hostile regime with nuclear weapons."

But speaking from Kabul, Afghanistan, McMaster acknowledged the likelihood of North Korean retaliation if Washington uses military force in an attempt to stop its weapons programs.

"What [is]particularly difficult about dealing with this regime, is that it is unpredictable," he said.

South Korea, which hosts 28,500 U.S. troops and holds a presidential election on May 9, warned of punitive action if the Sunday launch led to further provocation.

Impoverished North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-1953 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

The North has warned of a nuclear strike against the United States if provoked. It has said it has developed and would launch a missile that can strike the mainland United States, but officials and experts believe it is some time away from mastering the necessary technology, including miniaturizing a nuclear warhead.

North Korea launched a ballistic missile from the same region this month, ahead of a summit between the United States and China in Florida to discuss the North's arms program.

That missile, which U.S. officials said appeared to be a liquid-fuelled, extended-range Scud, only flew about 60 kilometres, a fraction of its range, before spinning out of control.

Tension had escalated sharply amid concern the North may conduct a sixth nuclear test or a ballistic missile test around Saturday's celebration of Kim Il-sung's birthday, which it calls the "Day of the Sun."

In Pyongyang, there was a festive atmosphere at a flower show, with families out, taking pictures with North Korean-made smartphones.

There was no mention of the test failure by the KCNA state news agency. Company worker Rim Chung-ryol, 30, said he had not heard of the test.

"If it is a failure, then failure is the mother of success," he told Reuters.

Factory worker Ri Gul-chol, 37, also had not heard about the missile test. "But whatever Kim Jong Un decides and instructs will succeed and all the citizens will support him," he said.