SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said on Sunday that its latest ICBM test would further bolster its “lethal” nuclear strike capabilities and signal another powerful move in upcoming military exercises between the United States and South Korea.
The US responded by flying long-range supersonic bombers late Sunday, demonstrating the power of separate joint exercises with South Korean and Japanese fighter jets.
North Korea’s first missile test since Jan. 1, Saturday’s ICBM test, saw its leader Kim Jong-un use a rival’s training as an opportunity to expand his country’s nuclear arsenal, threatening the United States. North Korea may try to conduct regular operational exercises with ICBMs, experts say.
North Korea’s official KCNA news agency said the launch of the Hwasong-15 ICBM was organized “suddenly” without prior notice under the direct orders of Kim Jong-un. KCNA said the launch was designed to confirm the reliability of the nuclear weapon and the combat readiness of the country’s nuclear force. Launched at a high angle, the rocket reached a maximum altitude of approximately 5,770 kilometers (3,585 miles), covered a distance of approximately 990 kilometers (615 miles) in 67 minutes, and then fired precisely the preset. Korean Peninsula and Japan.
The KCNA said the Hwasong-15 launch was an attempt to transform North Korea’s “strong physical nuclear deterrence” and “lethal nuclear counterstrike capability against enemy forces” into something much more irresistible.
Some experts say North Korea has not found a way to protect its warheads from the harsh conditions of atmospheric re-entry, so whether North Korea has a practical nuclear-warheaded ICBM remains to be seen. A source of outside controversy.North Korea says it has acquired such technology. Hwasong-15 is one of North Korea’s three existing ICBMs, all of which use liquid propellants, must be injected before launch, and cannot sustain fuel for long periods of time. North Korea is pushing to build solid-fuel ICBMs that are more maneuverable and harder to detect before launch.
Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at South Korea’s Korea Aerospace University, said North Korea appears to have launched an improved version of the Hwasong-15 ICBM. Chan said information provided by North Korea indicated that the missile would likely have a longer potential range than the standard Hwasong-15.
Later on Sunday, US B-1B bombers and other aircraft conducted separate exercises with South Korean and Japanese fighters over and near the Korean Peninsula. Sunday’s drills reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to “impregnable” security for South Korea, according to a South Korean military statement.
North Korea is sensitive to the US’ use of her B-1B bombers, which can carry large amounts of conventional weapons.
The North Korean launch came a day after Seoul and Washington pledged an “unprecedented” strong response to a series of military exercises planned in the coming weeks.
North Korea has adamantly condemned the normality between South Korea and the United States. Military training as an aggression test. Allies say their training is defensive in nature.
The South Korean and US forces plan to hold a tabletop exercise this week to improve their joint response to the possible use of nuclear weapons by North Korea. The allies will also conduct another joint computer simulation exercise and field training in March.
Both South Korea and Japan are important allies of the United States, but they often quarrel over issues stemming from Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to her 1945. But North Korea’s latest missile test has prompted the two countries to consider ways to strengthen security cooperation.
