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Trump reiterates support for Japan hours after North Korean missile launch

Trump made no other statements and refused to answer media questions about the launch

© AP Photo/Susan Walsh

WASHINGTON, February 12. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump assured Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that his country will always back Tokyo, which is a great ally.

The two leaders held an impromptu news conference in the luxury Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida hours after North Korea launched a ballistic missile that landed in the Sea of Japan.

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North Korea launches ballistic missile toward Sea of Japan - agency

"I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100%," Trump said.

Trump made no other statements and refused to answer media questions about the launch.

The Japanese prime minister, in his turn, described the launch as "absolutely intolerable" and urged Japan to comply with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

"During the summit meeting that I had with President Trump, he assured me that the US was always with Japan 100% and to demonstrate his determination and his commitment he is now with me at this joint statement," Abe said.

An unidentified missile was launched around 1:55 Moscow time, from Banghyeon in North Korea’s Pyongan Province. According to latest estimates it flew about 350-500 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan, outside the exclusive economic zone of Japan.

According to South Korean military, it was either a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile that can strike targets at the distance of 2,500-4,000 kilometers or a shorter-range Rodong missile.

North Korea’s media and officials have made no statements regarding the launch.

Jamaica recognizes Palestine as independent state — Foreign Ministry

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Verkhovna Rada legislator Alexey Goncharenko said on Monday that the UK had granted its agrement to the Ukrainian former Commander-in-Chief

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Russian deputy defense minister detained on suspicion of bribe-taking

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France preparing contingent of 2,000 troops to be sent to Ukraine — intelligence chief

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Hamas threatens that hostages remaining in Gaza may go missing

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Global community changing tune about how Ukraine conflict started — security official

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US Senate approves aid bills for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

As many as 79 senators backed the initiative and 18 voted against

UN chief describes current state of climate as ‘preview of disaster’

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

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Chinese car plant to start production at former Mercedes site in Moscow region in May

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Russia seeks to break down barriers for its food exports — MFA

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Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

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Biden to sign Ukraine aid bill on April 24

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Azerbaijanian leader says reaching peace with Armenia by November 'quite realistic'

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Calls for joint use of nuclear weapons with US dangerous — ICAN

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Biden administration raking it in from Ukrainian conflict — North Korean diplomat

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Russia presents world’s first hydrogen-fueled luxury car at Innoprom exhibition

The unique vehicle was built on the basis of the Aurus Senat luxury car

Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops — Shoigu

"The Kiev regime has failed to achieve the goals of its counteroffensive prepared by NATO instructors," the defense minister said

US military aid for Kiev cannot stop Russian army’s advance — North Korean diplomat

The US Congress House of Representatives earlier passed bills on military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan

Russia’s victory in Ukraine to change course of history in Europe — von der Leyen

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Ukrainian troops in Kharkov Region lift antennas with kites to get better signal

Military expert Andrey Marochko speculated that the Ukrainian army had to resort to this tactic because the TV tower in Kharkov was damaged

Putin informed about detention of Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov

Minister Sergey Shoigu was also informed beforehand, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

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World needs unified norms in cyberspace — Putin

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Mexicans, Colombians recruited in US jails to be deployed in Ukraine — SVR

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Ukraine lost best fighters near Artyomovsk, retired general says

Sergey Krivonos added that relocation of troops from one direction to another will not solve Ukrainian forces’ problems, and that each fighter should be used according to their specialization

Development of Sino-Russian cooperation to be main topic of AmurExpo forum

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Russian envoy, authorities of Afghanistan call for unfreezing of Afghan assets

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Speakers of EU parliaments back idea of creating rapid response forces

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Throughput capacity of Baikal-Amur Mainline surging threefold in twelve years

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Russian-Kazakh commission discusses border demarcation issues

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Top Russian security official praises Republika Srpska’s principled position on Ukraine

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NATO makes Russia its neighbor by expanding eastward, Russian envoy says

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US using human rights topics to shake political situation in Russia — embassy

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Russian forces take Ukrainian strongholds near Klescheyevka under control

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Ukrainian forces refuse to obey Commander-in-Chief Syrsky — CIA ex-analyst

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Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

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Russia recovers black boxes from crashed Tu-22M3 bomber

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Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

Yury Chikhanchin pointed out that the perpetrators of the attack were provided with money, weapons, transportation and ammunition

Continued threats to Pyongyang to put US, allies in danger, Kim Jong Un’s sister warns

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Russian troops destroy four boats with Ukrainian assault force on Dnieper River

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