North Korea launched what it believed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Friday, according to South Korean and Japanese officials. This came a day after North Korea launched short-range missiles and warned of “more violent” military action against the United States.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement on Friday that it detected a ballistic missile launch from North Korea’s east coast on Friday morning, likely an ICBM.
Japan’s defense ministry said in a statement on Friday that North Korea launched an ICBM-class ballistic missile from the west coast area around 10:14 am, which flew across the country toward the East Sea. Meanwhile, Japan’s Coast Guard said the missile likely landed in the sea about 210 kilometers (130 miles) west of Hokkaido.
Capable of carrying a nuclear warhead
The ICBM is North Korea’s longest-range weapon, designed to carry a nuclear warhead anywhere on the continental United States. They have a minimum range of about 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles), and some can travel over 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles).
The launch came a day after North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile from its east coast. This is the first missile launch in just over a week. It also came hours after North Korea threatened to launch “more intense” military action against the United States if Washington chooses to continue its security commitments to protect regional allies. .
The official threat is that U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and South Korean leader Yoon Suk-yeol will meet in Cambodia on November 13 to strongly condemn North Korea’s recent missile tests and bolster deterrence. brought about after agreeing to work together to strengthen the
At another meeting with Kishida on the same day, Biden said, “We reaffirmed our commitment to extended deterrence. [South Korea] U.S. commitment to use all U.S. defense capabilities, including nuclear, conventional, and missile defense capabilities, and to identify additional measures to further strengthen deterrence, including nuclear, conventional, and missile defense capabilities. emphasized. [North Korea’s] A nuclear threat, according to a White House statement.
North Korea claims the presence of US troops in the region is evidence of US hostility towards it. North Korea has also said its recent series of weapon launches were in response to what it called provocative military exercises between the United States and South Korea.
North Korea has conducted a record number of ballistic missile tests this year, including short-range and intercontinental ballistic missiles. It launched an ICBM at full range in March, marking its first ICBM test since 2017.
The United States and its allies have expressed concern that North Korea may be preparing to resume nuclear testing for the first time since 2017.
Yun pointed out that North Korea has recently completed all the technical preparations necessary for an underground explosion at the Punggye-ri test site. Punggye-ri Proving Ground has been officially closed since 2018. North Korea said he conducted six nuclear tests from 2006 to 2017.
North Korea has a nuclear test site in Punggye-ri in the northeast. The Kim regime demolished the site to demonstrate its promise to end nuclear testing in May 2018. However, South Korean and US intelligence agencies reported earlier this year that they had discovered construction work at the site.
US-led negotiations to advance North Korea’s denuclearization, including giving up its nuclear and ballistic missile weapons, have stalled since February 2019. No agreement can be reached on the dispute over US-led international sanctions against North Korea.
Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Mimi Nguyen Ly covers world news with a focus on US news. Please contact her at [email protected]