U.N. Security Council Condemns North Korea Missile Test Over Japan

As reported by Democracy Now! morning headline news:

The U.N. Security Council has condemned North Korea’s latest missile tests, including the launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile that flew over the Japanese island of Hokkaido Tuesday morning. This is the Japanese Ambassador to the United Nations Koro Bessho.

Koro Bessho: "Japan welcomes the swift adoption of the presidential statement strongly condemning the most recent ballistic missile launch by North Korea, which flew over Japan, and also demanding North Korea immediately cease all such actions. This demonstrates the unity of the Security Council and sends a strong and clear message to North Korea that the international community will not accept its reckless behavior."

The Security Council did not vote to impose further sanctions against North Korea. Both Russia and China urged negotiations and blamed the U.S. military activity on the Korean Peninsula for escalating tensions.

And see DN!'s comprehensive coverage of the North Korea-U.S. conflict, here.

Japanese Residents Urged to Take Cover as North Korea Fires Missile over Japan

As reported on Democracy Now! morning headlines:

North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan early Tuesday morning. It was North Korea’s second ballistic missile test in recent days. Millions of Japanese citizens were warned to take cover as the missile flew overhead. This is Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.

Yoshihide Suga: "We find these repeated threats by North Korea unacceptable and have strongly protested to North Korea in the strongest possible words. We will deal with this through the United Nations Security Council and while working closely in coordination with the United States and South Korea in order to ensure the utmost is done for the safety of our people."

President Trump reiterated that the U.S. might launch a military strike against North Korea, saying in a statement this morning that "all options are on the table." The U.S. and South Korea are currently conducting massive military exercises on the Korean peninsula.

And see DN!'s comprehensive coverage of the N. Korea-U.S. conflict, here.

I’m a nuclear weapons expert. Trump’s presidency is my personal nightmare.

By Jeffrey Lewis, a scholar at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, a.k.a. the Arms Control Wonk. Published by the Washington Post.

U.S. & South Korea Launch Massive Military Drills on Korean Peninsula

As reported by Democracy Now!'s morning news headlines:

The United States and South Korea have launched massive military drills on the Korean Peninsula, amid rising tensions between the U.S. and North Korea. More than 17,000 U.S. troops and 50,000 South Korean troops will participate in the military drills. Soldiers from Australia, Britain and Canada will also take part. The military drills come after President Trump threatened to attack North Korea with "fire and fury" and members of the Trump administration continue to make the case for a preemptive military strike against North Korea.

And see DN!'s comprehensive N. Korea-U.S. conflict coverage, here.

Presidents have too much power over U.S. nukes. Especially President Trump.

See the column by Bruce Blair in the Washington Post.

Bruce Blair is a research scholar in Princeton University's Program on Science and Global Security and a founder of Global Zero, the international movement for the elimination of nuclear weapons.