North Korea announced on Thursday that it had test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, dubbed the “world's most powerful strategic weapon.” Kim Jong Un was also present at the scene and supervised the activities. The North Korean leader said the test was a warning to enemies threatening the country's security, Reuters reported, citing the Korean Central News Agency.
North Korea conducted a test. Report on records
“Missile testing is an appropriate military action that fully serves the purpose of deliberately escalating the situation in the region and signaling our intent to counter those adversaries who have recently created threats to our security.” the dictator said.
South Korea announced that the missile launch was North Korea's longest ballistic missile test. The flight time was 87 minutes. The Korean Central News Agency reported that the test set a new record for missile capability.
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The missile took off from near North Korea's capital and crashed off the coast of Hokkaido, about 200 kilometers west of Japan's Okushiri Island.
The Japanese government reported that the weapon reached a height of 7,000 meters. km, flew a thousand kilometers. The last record was set in December, when the missile flew for 73 minutes. This translates into a potential range of 15,000 meters. km. Media outlets point out that with such a range, it is possible to fire this weapon on any US territory.
Reuters highlights that the test took place at a time of growing international concern and concern over South Korea's cooperation with Russia. Kim Jong Un sent about 11,000 people to Vladimir Putin. It is stationed near the Western Front with Ukraine, including 3,000 soldiers.
Moreover, North Korea's latest test came just hours after U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defense Secretary Kim Yong-hyun met in Washington to condemn North Korea's sending of troops to Russia.
North Korea is cooperating with Russia. Concerns are growing
So far, neither Moscow nor North Korea have directly acknowledged sending troops in opposition to the war with Ukraine, but Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Neventsia said on Wednesday that Western countries have the right to support Kiev. He asked why allies such as North Korea could not support Moscow in making its case. .
South Korea believes the test poses a direct threat to its national security, as it will give North Korea valuable combat experience. Additionally, the government believes that Kim Jong Un may receive tactical nuclear weapons, intercontinental ballistic missiles, ballistic missile submarines, and military reconnaissance satellites from President Putin.
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The experiment drew immediate criticism from South Korea, Japan, and the United States. Shin Seung-gi, head of North Korean military research at the state-run South Korean Defense Analytical Research Institute, said the latest missile launch, possibly with Russian collusion, could be a test to improve the performance of the missile's booster unit. He said it was highly sexual.
He stressed that “North Korea will want to continue receiving this type of support because it can save time and money while improving the efficiency and stability of its weapons systems.”
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