North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the successful test of the country’s newest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), according to state media reports on Thursday. The test comes just days after North Korea threatened to down any US spy planes that enter its airspace. State media images show a beaming Kim, wearing a white suit and surrounded by his wife and aides, applauding enthusiastically after the launch of the solid-fuel Hwasong-18.
The ICBM, which North Korea fired only once before in April, flew a distance of 1,001 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 6,648 kilometers before plunging into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA described the launch as a grand explosion that shook the whole planet. State media footage showed the missile soaring into the sky.
Kim declared that a series of stronger military offensives would be unleashed until the United States and South Korea alter their policies towards North Korea, the agency added. Expressing concern over the unstable situation on the Korean peninsula, Kim called for more intense efforts to bolster North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.
The confirmation of the missile launch came at a time when relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points ever. Diplomatic efforts have stalled, and Kim has emphasized the need for advancing weapons development, including tactical nuclear weapons.
In response to Pyongyang’s actions, Seoul and Washington have heightened security cooperation, pledging that North Korea would face a nuclear response and the possible collapse of its government if it were to employ its nuclear weapons against the allies.
Seoul condemned Wednesday’s launch as a grave provocation that damages the peace and security of the Korean peninsula. The United Nations, the United States, and their allies also strongly condemned the launch.
The situation on the Korean peninsula remains tense and unpredictable, with North Korea continuing to pursue its missile and nuclear weapons programs. The international community is deeply concerned about the escalating tensions and the potential consequences of North Korea’s actions.
Both diplomatic and military solutions are being explored, with various countries advocating different approaches. However, finding a peaceful resolution to the crisis remains a significant challenge.
In the coming days and weeks, the international community will closely monitor North Korea’s actions and assess the appropriate response. Efforts to curb North Korea’s weapons development and ensure stability in the region will likely remain a top priority for world leaders.
