North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw what they defined as a successful test launch of a hypersonic missile that, according to the president, will notably increase the country’s nuclear “war deterrents”, the Asian country reported on Wednesday.
The North Korean state media report came a day after the armed forces of the United States, South Korea and Japan said they detected that North Korea had launched a suspected ballistic missile into its eastern waters.
Korea’s Central News Agency (KCNA) said Tuesday’s launch consisted of a hypersonic glide vehicle, which demonstrated “glide flight momentum” and “a spiral maneuver” following its detachment of the rocket, before reaching a maritime target located 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) away.
Photographs released by the agency showed a missile equipped with a cone-shaped payload soaring into the sky while leaving a trail of orange flames, and Kim accompanied by high-ranking officials watching the launch from a small cockpit.
The launch was North Korea’s second test of its suspected hypersonic missile in a week and one that it first tested in September as Kim continues his challenging work to expand its nuclear weapons capacity in the face of international sanctions, difficulties related to the pandemic and stalled diplomatic negotiations with the United States.
Kim Jong Un supervised the launch. Photo EFE / KCNA
North Korea has accelerated its testing activity since late last year, in what experts see as an attempt to increase pressure on rivals in Washington and Seoul. to be accepted as a nuclear power, hoping to receive some relief from economic sanctions.
Kim praised the achievements of scientists and military officials involved in developing the hypersonic missile system, which he described as the most important part of a new five-year plan announced in early 2021 to increase the country’s military strength, according to the KCNA.
North Korea has indicated that the new missile is part of its “strategic” arsenal, suggesting that the system is developed with the purpose of having nuclear capacity.
Kim Jong Un supervised the launch. Photo EFE / KCNA
International condemnation
North Korea launched a new missile, the second in just six days, a “suspected ballistic missile” into the East Sea, South Korean armed forces reported Tuesday.
“Our armed forces detected a possible ballistic missile fired by North Korea on land towards the East Sea” in the morning, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff reported in a statement.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida confirmed the incident and told reporters that North Korea launched “an object that could be a ballistic missile.”
The launch came after six countries, including the United States and Japan, urged North Korea to halt “destabilizing actions” before a meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the missile test that Pyongyang called “hypersonic.”
“Is extremely unfortunate that North Korea continue to launch missiles, “Kishida added.
France, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Albania joined that call, in which they asked Pyongyang “engage in a dialogue leading to our shared goal of complete denuclearization”.
The US Forces in Korea (USFK) viewed the trial as proof “of the destabilizing consequences of the DPRK’s (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the official name for North Korea) illicit weapons program.”
With AP information
DB
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