SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Friday its latest ballistic test involved a new long-range solid-fuel missile it described as the “most powerful piece” in its arsenal its growing nuclear arsenal, intended to strike the United States. . States and its allies in Asia.
North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency published the report a day after its neighbors detected the launch from an area near the capital Pyongyang, adding to a series of tests that have so far involved more than 100 missiles fired in the sea from the beginning of 2022. .
KCNA said the test was overseen at the site by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who said the missile, called the Hwasong-18, would improve the counterattack capabilities of his nuclear forces in the face of what he described as threats increasingly created by foreigners. military. the activities of the United States and its regional allies. Kim has vowed to further expand his nuclear arsenal so that his rivals “suffer extreme anxiety and fear as they face an insurmountable threat and are plunged into regret and despair over their decisions.”
North Korea has justified its weapons demonstrations in response to expanding military exercises between the United States and South Korea, which the North condemns as evidence of an invasion, using them as a pretext to continue developing its own weapons.
“Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said that accelerating the development of evolving, more advanced and powerful weapon systems is the consistent policy of our party and government to respond to military threats and the worsening security situation on the Korean peninsula,” KCNA said .
He quoted Kim as saying the Hwasong-18 would rapidly advance North Korea’s nuclear response posture and further bolster an aggressive military strategy that promises to maintain “nuclear and all-out confrontation” against its rivals.
North Korea has tested various ICBMs since 2017 that have demonstrated the potential range to reach the US mainland, but its previous missiles were powered by liquid-fuel engines that needed to be fueled relatively shortly before launch because they cannot stay fueled for long of time. periods of time.
An ICBM with embedded solid propellants would be easier to move and hide, and could be fired more quickly, reducing opportunities for adversaries to detect and counter the launch. But it was not immediately clear from Friday’s report how close the North is to acquiring a functioning solid-fuel ICBM capable of reaching and striking the US mainland.
The solid-fuel ICBMs highlighted an extensive wish list that Kim announced as part of a five-year weapons development plan in 2021 that also included tactical nuclear weapons, hypersonic missiles, nuclear-powered submarines and spy satellites
This year alone, the North has launched about 30 missiles in 12 different launch events, as both the pace of weapons development and US-South Korea military exercises increase in a cycle of twists and turns.
The U.S. and South Korean militaries held their largest land drills in years last month and separately held joint naval and air exercises involving a strike group of U.S. aircraft carriers and nuclear-capable U.S. bombers.
North Korea said the drills simulated an all-out war against North Korea and communicated threats to occupy Pyongyang and decapitate its leadership. The United States and South Korea have described their drills as defensive in nature and said expanding the drills is necessary to address evolving threats from the North.
I’m a passionate and motivated journalist with a focus on world news. My experience spans across various media outlets, including Buna Times where I serve as an author. Over the years, I have become well-versed in researching and reporting on global topics, ranging from international politics to current events.