North Korea Successfully Tests Heavy Procurator Missiles, Japan, US, And South Korea Seriously Discussing Recent Missiles

Illustration - The military parade of the Korean People's Army in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, on April 15, 2017, among others showed guided missiles. (DOC. ANTARA)

WASHINGTON - North Korea's official news agency (KCNA) on Friday, April 14 released an announcement that North Korea had successfully launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile test using solid propellant fuel.

Shortly after the missile launch, senior officials of defense Japan, the United States, and South Korea also agreed to step up efforts to realize real-time information sharing on North Korean missiles.

The defense officials said they had discussed ways for their armed forces to resume trilateral exercises in order to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region in a "more effective way".

With relations between Japan and South Korea getting better, the three countries held a director-general meeting for the first time in three years, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, April 15.

"The three defense officials ensure that each side will remain vigilant and increase trilateral security cooperation to prevent nuclear and missile (North Korea) threats," Japan's Director General of Defense Policy Kazuo Masuda, with US counterpart Ely Ratner and from South Korea Heo Tae Keun said in a joint statement.

Apart from North Korea, the statement also stated that the three sides emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the need to support Ukraine to push Russia back.