North Korea says it conducted an ICBM test days before the US election.



Tokyo and Seoul
CNN

North Korea said it test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday morning, a test believed to have achieved the longest flight time for a North Korean missile ever. is

The test comes just days before the United States presidential election on Tuesday, and follows warnings from South Korea's intelligence agency that Pyongyang may launch an ICBM to test its re-entry technology in time for the election. is making a plan.

The test comes even as North Korea has ramped up its nuclear production efforts and strengthened ties with Russia, raising widespread concern in the West about the isolated country's direction.

According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the missile was fired at “a high angle”, meaning it flew almost vertically upwards rather than outward, and had a range of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). decided

Japanese officials reported that the missile flew for about 86 minutes and flew to a potential altitude of 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles) before it hit Japan's Special Forces at around 8:37 a.m. west of Okoshiri Island in northern Hokkaido. Outside the economic zone, public broadcaster NHK said.

“The flight time was the longest ever. Probably the newest missile ever,” said Japanese Defense Minister General Nakatani.

Seoul's JCS spokesman Lee Sung-joon said it could be a “new type of solid-velocity long-range ballistic missile” fired from a 12-axis mobile launcher (TEL). Pyongyang disclosed last month.

Solid-fuel missiles, such as North Korea's Hwasong-18, would allow Pyongyang to launch longer-range nuclear strikes than missiles using liquid-fuel technology.

Solid-fueled ICBMs are more stable, and can be moved more easily to avoid detection before launch, which can be launched in minutes, experts say, compared to liquid-fueled missiles. Competitions that can take hours before launch allow time for opponents. To locate and neutralize the weapon.

North Korea said the launch “demonstrates the modernization and credibility of the world's most powerful strategic deterrent”, according to the country's state media.

State media also reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was present at the launch and called the test a “proper military operation”.

If the missile is confirmed to be an ICBM, it would be North Korea's first such test since its Hwasong-18 missile test in December 2023.

During the December test, Japanese officials reported that the missile flew for about 73 minutes and at an altitude of 6,000 km (3,700 mi).

Thursday's missile flew further than North Korea's previous ICBM test, according to a preliminary analysis by South Korea's military.

While the missile demonstrated the range to strike anywhere in the United States, it would need to be fired at a flatter velocity to hit the country.

The White House condemned the test, calling it “a flagrant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.” National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said the launch “unnecessarily escalates tensions” in the region and that the U.S. will “take all necessary steps to ensure the security of the American homeland and our Republic of Korea and Japanese allies.”

Nuclear weapons technology and relations with Russia

Speaking at the launch site, Kim affirmed that his country “will never change its line of strengthening its nuclear forces,” KCNA reported Thursday.

In addition to the ICBM test, South Korea's military intelligence agency has also warned that North Korea could soon conduct its seventh nuclear test.

The agency said on Wednesday that Pyongyang had completed preparations for such a test at its Punggy-ri test site, and that the test could take place around the time of the US election, two lawmakers briefed during a regular parliamentary session.

Since its first nuclear test more than a decade ago, North Korea has increased its weapons capabilities, including the desire to make a warhead smaller enough to fit on a long-range missile. could

The launch comes as U.S. and South Korean officials say thousands of North Korean troops are training in Russia, hoping to prepare for possible action on the front lines of Moscow's war against Ukraine. have been

The Pentagon estimated Monday that about 10,000 North Korean troops are undergoing military training in eastern Russia. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday that some troops have moved closer to Ukraine and have been given Russian military uniforms and are using Russian equipment.

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun said North Korea would ask Moscow for advanced nuclear weapons technology in exchange for deploying troops to help Russia.

Pyongyang will likely request the transfer of Russian technology related to tactical nuclear weapons, North Korean intercontinental ballistic missiles, spy satellites and nuclear submarines, the minister said.

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