On Friday, state media reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had personally ordered the testing of a “new type” of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
“The test-launch of the new ICBM ‘Hwasong-17’ of the Strategic Forces of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was conducted on March 24 (…) under the direct guidance of Kim Jong Un,” the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said.
“The missile launched from Pyongyang International Airport rose to its maximum range of 6,248 km and flew 1,090 km for 4,052 minutes before accurately hitting a predetermined area in the open waters of the East Korean Sea,” the agency said, as Pyongyang calls the Sea of Japan.
The North Korean leader said the new ballistic missile shows our strategic strength, noting that ICBMs are the key to deterring any nuclear war.
The Korean leader added: “We are ready to contain and thwart any US military attempts,” stressing, “Anyone who tries to breach the security of our country will pay a heavy price.”
The missile test drew condemnation from the leaders of the United States, Japan and South Korea.
North Korean leader watching a military test
Pictures published by state media showed a huge missile rising above a column of flames from the launch vehicle.
The South Korean military estimated the range of the missile tested on Thursday to be 6,200 km, far exceeding the range of the last ICBM tested by North Korea in October 2017.
Thursday’s test is one of more than a dozen missile tests conducted by North Korea this year, and marks a return to the long-range missile tests that the nuclear-armed country used to carry out.
It is likely to be North Korea’s largest ICBM test, and the first time that Kim’s most powerful missile has been tested since 2017.
Kim said the new weapon “will reliably fulfill its mission and duty as a strong deterrent to nuclear war,” according to the Central News Agency.
“Kim noted with pride that the emergence of a new strategic weapon of the DPRK will make the whole world once once more clearly aware of the strength of our strategic armed forces,” the agency said.
Long-range missile tests have been temporarily halted since Kim began meeting then US President Donald Trump in a diplomatic effort that quickly collapsed in 2019.
But North Korea threatened earlier this year that it might abandon its self-imposed ban on its long-range missile and nuclear tests, warning the United States and South Korea that it was preparing to launch an ICBM with its full range.
North Korea has long wanted ballistic missiles that can carry multiple warheads, and Seoul and Washington say Pyongyang is testing the Hwasong-17 under the cover of developing a “reconnaissance satellite”.
Last week, a likely test of the “Hwasong-17” missile ended in failure and exploded in the sky over the capital shortly following its launch.
North Korea has conducted three tests of ICBMs, the last of which was at the end of 2017, the “Hwasong-15” missile, which can reach the territory of the United States.
