2023-12-19 01:31:33
North Korean official media reported on Tuesday that leader Kim Jong-un personally supervised on Monday the “test-fire” of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, the most powerful missile ever in Pyongyang’s arsenal and theoretically capable of reaching the American mainland. .
“The test launch of the Hwasongfu-18 intercontinental ballistic missile was conducted as an important military operation in order to clearly demonstrate to the enemies the overwhelming desire and unparalleled power of the DPRK’s strategic nuclear forces,” the official news agency said.
The agency quoted Kim as saying that this experiment sent a “clear signal to the hostile forces.”
She added that Kim “set important new tasks for the development of the DPRK’s strategic nuclear forces.”
South Korea said on Monday that the missile launched by Pyongyang was an intercontinental ballistic missile powered by solid fuel, a technology that makes transporting missiles easier and launching them faster compared to those powered by liquid fuel.
The test conducted by North Korea on Monday is the third in which the nuclear-armed state has tested a solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile, after a first test in April and a second test in July.
Analysts saw the succession of these experiments as an indication of continuing efforts by Pyongyang to improve this technology.
Last year, North Korea declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear power.
Pyongyang has repeatedly stressed that it will not abandon its nuclear program, which the regime considers necessary for its survival.
These missile tests, banned under resolutions issued by the UN Security Council, came in the wake of an exchange of accusations between the United States and South Korea on the one hand, and North Korea on the other.
On Friday, the United States and South Korea held their second session of the Nuclear Advisory Group in Washington, during which the country discussed the issue of nuclear deterrence in the event of a conflict with the North.
On Saturday, Washington and Seoul issued a strong warning to Pyongyang that any nuclear attack it might launch on the United States or South Korea would mean the end of the North Korean regime.
A spokesman for the North Korean Ministry of Defense on Sunday criticized the two countries’ plans to expand their annual joint military exercises next year to include training for nuclear operations.
This year, North Korea conducted a record number of banned military tests.
In November, North Korea successfully placed a military spy satellite into orbit.
Pyongyang confirms that this satellite provides it with images of military sites in the United States and South Korea.
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