North Korea publishes photos of the launch of its new intercontinental missile that puts the world on alert

the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Unpersonally oversaw the firing of a “new type” of intercontinental ballistic missile to boost its deterrence against US “imperialists,” state media reported Friday.

Pyongyang launched one of its most powerful missiles at full range for the first time since 2017 on Thursday. Preliminary data indicates that it reached higher and farther than any projectile previously tested by this nuclear-capable country.

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The test of the “new type of intercontinental ballistic missile”, the Hwasong-17was carried out under the “direct guidance” of the leader kimindicated the agency KCNA.

kim assured that the new weapon “it will perform its mission and power as a powerful deterrent against nuclear war” and “will make the world clearly aware of the power of our strategic armed forces,” according to statements collected by this medium.

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The country has “formidable military and technical capabilities unperturbed by any military threat or blackmail” and will be “fully prepared for a long-term confrontation with the US imperialists,” he added.

North Korea’s new type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). (AFP).

The Hwasong-17 is a gigantic intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) first shown on parade in October 2020 and dubbed a “monster missile” by analysts. It was the first time it had been fired, causing outrage among neighboring countries and the United States.

Washington decreed new sanctions against entities and individuals in North Korea and Russia accused of “transferring sensitive items to Pyongyang’s missile program,” the State Department said.

Kim’s Supervision

State media on Friday showed footage of Kim, wearing his usual black leather jacket and sunglasses, walking on the airport tarmac in front of the long missile.

North Korea’s new type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). (AFP).

“The missile, launched from Pyongyang International Airport, traveled at a maximum altitude of 6,248.5 km and flew 1,090 km for 4,052 seconds before accurately impacting a predefined area in open water.” in the Sea of ​​Japan, KCNA said.

The South Korean military put the missile’s range at 6,200 kilometers, far beyond the estimate for the latest ICBM, the Hwasong-15, which Pyongyang tested in October 2017.

The projectile landed near Japan’s coast in its exclusive economic zone, prompting a furious response from Tokyo. KCNA assures that the launch was made “in vertical mode in consideration of the security of neighboring countries.”

North Korea’s new type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). (AFP).

Seoul, Washington and the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, denounced that the launch violated the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, which will meet on an emergency Friday to study this issue.

Breaking of the moratorium

Despite strong international sanctions for its weapons and nuclear programme, North Korea it has deployed a dozen tests so far this year and has broken a self-imposed moratorium on long-range and nuclear missiles.

North Korea’s new type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). (AFP).

Pyongyang had officially suspended these trials while Kim Jong Un was involved in high-profile negotiations with former US President Donald Trump, which collapsed in 2019 and have been stalled ever since.

The country had warned this year that it could abandon that moratorium, while Washington and Seoul warned that the firing of an ICBM was being prepared, with launches of Hwasong-17 components camouflaged as satellites.

In the past week, South Korea reported a failed test from the same Pyongyang airport in which the projectile would have exploded over the sky of the capital. Analysts assured that it was the Hwasong-17.

Kim Jong-un celebrates the test launch of a new ICBM intercontinental ballistic missile. (AFP).

KCNA said the latest test “clearly proved that all parameters of the weapon system meet the design requirements” and its operability is now guaranteed.

These advances come on the eve of the 110th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, founder of the country and grandfather of the current leader, on April 15, a type of anniversary that Pyongyang usually celebrates by demonstrating military might.

They also come at a time of international and regional instability due to the conflict in Ukraine and the transition period in South Korea until the inauguration of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol in May.

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Source: Elcomercio