US accuses North Korea of ​​testing new intercontinental missile system

The shots made by North Korea on February 26 and March 4 were intended to test “elements of a new system” intercontinental ballistic missiles, a senior White House official said Thursday, calling them “serious escalation”.

“These launches are certainly intended to test elements of that new system before North Korea proceed to a long-range launch, which it might try to pass off as a space launch,” he added.

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Pyongyang claimed that the launches in late February and early March were satellite development tests.

In response, the United States will announce measures on Friday to “prevent North Korea access foreign products and technologies to develop its prohibited weapons programs”and “other actions will follow in the coming dayssaid the source, who requested anonymity.

“United States decided to make this information public and share it with our allies and partners because we prioritize strategic risk reduction and because we firmly believe that the international community must speak with one voice to oppose the future development of such weapons by North Korea”.

“We continue to seek diplomatic dialogue and we are ready for a meeting without conditions” with the North Koreans, he added.

Washington and its allies failed to try to get a text against North Korea adopted this week in the UN Security Council, in the face of rejection by Russia and China.

Despite heavy international sanctions for its nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests, Pyongyang has so far rejected all offers of dialogue since talks between leader Kim Jong Un and then-US President Donald Trump failed in 2019.

North Korea stepped up modernization of its military and warned in January that it could lift a moratorium on long-range missile and nuclear weapons tests.

The US announcement follows the victory in South Korea’s presidential election by Yoon Suk-yeol, who wants to show toughness against North Korea.

The new South Korean president, whom Joe Biden called Thursday to congratulate him, promised to “teach Kim Jong Un some manners.”

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Source: Elcomercio

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