North Korea's missile launch strikes near Russian coast - could hit vital U.S. military base next

North Korea launched their most successful missile test

On Sunday, North Korea launched their most successful missile test yet. The results of this trial point to the idea that North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, may be capable of striking an important U.S. military base located in the Pacific Ocean.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to reports, the launched missile appeared to have landed off the eastern coast of Russia. Although Russia stated the missile hit waters 310 miles off its shores, officials with the United States believe the missile struck just 60 miles from Russia's Vladivostok.

The new Hwasong-12 missile reached an altitude of 1,312 miles - making it also the highest test out of the seven launched this year.

"North Korea's latest successful missile test represents a level of performance never before seen from a North Korean missile," aerospace engineer, John Schilling wrote in his 38 North blog, noting that if the missile was fired from a different trajectory, it very well could have hit the U.S. Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.

The White House released a statement condemning the attack, acknowledging President Trump can't imagine Russia would be pleased with North Korea's most recent missile test.

"Let this latest provocation serve as a call for all nations to implement far stronger sanctions against North Korea," said the statement from White House press secretary Sean Spicer.

Russian President Vladimir Putin came forward, Monday morning, also condemning the attack, but warned others against "intimidating" North Korea's capital.

According to CNN's Moscow Bureau Chief, Matthew Chance, Russia does not want North Korea to have nuclear weapons, but since Russia is not one of Pyongyang's targets, there has been minimal response from its officials.

"Striking near Russia does not mark a new phase in North Korea's missile and nuclear ambitions," stated Chance. "It's far more likely that Sunday's missile was just somewhat off target. It's highly doubtful that North Korea would intentionally send a warning shot at Russia."

Russia is after all one of the few countries with diplomatic ties to North Korea.

"If Russia can be instrumental in resolving a key international dispute like North Korea, they will want to parry that into something else, to use it as a bargaining chip," Chance said.

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