North Korea carried out a test launch of its latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-18, according to reports from the country’s state media. The missile, described as the centerpiece of North Korea’s nuclear strike capabilities, serves as a strong warning to its adversaries, particularly the United States. The launch, initially detected by military forces in South Korea and Japan, drew condemnation from the United States, as well as leaders in Seoul and Tokyo, among others. In response to North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons development, the United Nations Security Council, which has previously passed resolutions prohibiting such activities, will convene a public meeting to discuss the recent missile test.
The Hwasong-18, which was first unveiled in April, represents a significant advancement for North Korea. It is the country’s first ICBM to utilize solid propellants, enabling faster missile deployment in times of conflict. The test launch is a crucial step in the ongoing development of North Korea’s strategic nuclear capabilities and serves as a practical warning to its adversaries. KCNA also accused the United States of escalating tensions through the deployment of submarines and bombers to the Korean peninsula, as well as engaging in nuclear war planning with South Korean allies. The news agency claimed that the current military security situation has reached a nuclear crisis stage surpassing that of the Cold War era.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the test and expressed his determination to take increasingly strong measures to safeguard the country’s security until the United States and its allies abandon their hostile policies, according to the report. The state news agency KCNA (Korean Central News Agency) is the state news agency of North Korea. stated that the Hwasong-18 achieved a flight time of 74 minutes, the longest duration ever recorded for a North Korean missile test. To ensure safety, the second and third stages of the missile followed a lofted trajectory, reaching a high altitude. KCNA emphasized that the test launch did not pose any threat to neighboring countries.
North Korea claims that the missile traveled a distance of 1,001 kilometers (622 miles) and reached an altitude of 6,648 kilometers. Japan reported that the missile splashed down in the sea east of the Korean peninsula, approximately 250 kilometers west of Okushiri island in northern Japan. Photographs released by KCNA depict the Hwasong-18 being launched from a road-mobile, multi-wheeled vehicle called a transporter erector launcher (TEL). This type of launcher enables missiles to be fired from unpredictable locations. Wednesday’s launch took place at the same site outside Pyongyang as the Hwasong-18’s initial test, which was conducted in a purpose-built field, as revealed by commercial satellite imagery showing reinforced concrete beneath the grass.
