North Korea Day of the Sun celebrations.
After satellite images that were taken by U.S based monitoring group 38North showed continued activity on the North Korea nuclear test site on Mt. Mantap, there were growing concerns over a nuclear test over the Day of the Sun celebrations. This, however, didn't happen and rather what occurred was a missile test on Sunday, from the Eastern port of Sinpo that failed, exploding moments after it's launch.
There is a possibility that the U.S might have used a cyber attack on the North Korean side to force the missile to explode prematurely. The's cyber attacks were started while former President Barrack Obama was in office and there are no confirmed reports of the projects dismissal or continuance. Before the failed missile test, North Korea displayed an array of new missiles and launchers some which analysts say were paraded for the very first time. The following list contains the said weapons. Two inter-continental ballistic missile sized canisters, plus its submarine-launched ballistic missile and a land-based version of the same.
The U.S said that they didn't believe the missile launched on Sunday had intercontinental capabilities. South Korea, however, threatened that if the North attempted a nuclear test or an ICBM launch (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Launch), there would be a powerful punishing measure that North Korea authority won't be able to endure.
U.S Vice President Mike Pence South Korea visit
On the same day as the celebrations, the U.S Vice President Mike Pence travelled to South Korea. While at the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone- a heavily fortified buffer 4 KM wide, and 160 KM long, separating the North from the South established during the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War in 1953), he issued a statement to CNN saying that unlike the past U.S presidents, President Trumps approach would be different.
He said they're going to abandon the failed policy of strategic patience, and are going to redouble their efforts to bring diplomatic and economic pressure to bear on North Korea, hoping to resolve this problem peaceably.
The administration is also relying on China to help in this strategy, and although President Trump campaigned a lot against China, his stance has since changed, at least when it comes to dealing with North Korea. North Korea does between 80%-90% of all its trade with China. China had stated that it would comply with UN Sanctions in January and in February Beijing banned North Korea Coal imports a major source of income, for the North. I am not sure how everything will unfold but I do know this one thing, I am not alone in wanting a peaceful solution to end this situation.