Deployment of THAAD exacerbates tensions

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Monday claimed it successfully test-fired a surface-to-surface medium - and long-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2 on Sunday, according to the state news organization Korean Central News Agency.

The missile was launched at the same time as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was paying a visit to the United States, and US President Donald Trump and Abe made a joint "commitment" to "address the DPRK menace".

Last year alone Pyongyang conducted two nuclear tests and ran a series of missile tests, and the nuclear threat from the DPRK has provided a good excuse for the US and its Asian allies to step up their military cooperation.