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The South’s top security adviser, Chung Eui-yong, called his US counterpart General HR McMaster in the wake of the launch to discuss beginning discussions with the Trump administration to
build up Seoul’s missile capabilities, according to the New York Times. And Mr Moon also reportedly ordered his government to cooperate with US demands to install an increased amount of the
high-tech Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile systems. This flies in the face of the promises of Mr Moon – who was elected in May’s presidential election – to seek
peaceful reunification with the North. South Korea had actively pursued the development of nuclear weapons until the 1970s, when pressure from Washington led the country to sign in the
international nuclear non-proliferation treaty. But an increasingly aggressive North pursuing its own nuclear programme has led many Koreans to call for such drastic measures. Pyongyang’s
missile is believed to have reached an altitude of 2,200 miles (3,540 km) and flew for 45 minutes before landing in Japan's exclusive economic zone, according to officials from Tokyo.
Analysts from the US calculated that on a normal trajectory, Kim’s missile could potentially strike major US cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago or even New York. In response to Friday’s
launch, the US and South Korea conducted a joint live-firing exercise of the South’s coast as a show of force.