On Sunday, North Korea announced that it had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) the previous day. Missile was launched in a “sudden launching drill”. Said drill confirmed its readiness for a “mobile and mighty counterattack” against hostile forces. This launch came after North Korea had warned of a strong response to upcoming military drills by South Korea and the US. The missile had flown for 1 hour, 6 minutes, and 55 seconds, as high as 5,768 km. Afterwards, it hit a pre-set area 989 km away in open waters.
North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA, described the missile launch as a surprise ICBM launching drill. Agency stated this launch demonstrated the country’s consistent efforts to turn its capacity of fatal nuclear counterattack into irresistible one . The country’s leader, Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, warned the US not to use the UN SC as a “tool for heinous hostile policy” towards Pyongyang. Moreover, She added that North Korea would watch every movement of the enemy and take overwhelming counteraction against its every move.
However, the missile was the North’s first since January 1. Afterwards, Japan said it plunged into waters inside its exclusive economic zone. South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin said the launch clearly signals North Korea’s intent to conduct additional provocations. Analysts predict that North Korea is likely to conduct more weapons tests, including a possible new solid-fuel missile that could help the country deploy its missiles faster in the event of a war.
Due to UN Security resolutions, North Korea can not have ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs. Pyongyang says its weapons development is necessary to counter “hostile policies” by Washington and its allies.
