A North Korean submarine test-launched a ballistic missile in the East China Sea on Wednesday as the United States and South Korean militaries were conducting joint drills that Pyongyang has called a threat.
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North Korea’s official media reported Thursday that leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test-firing of the SLBM and declared it “the greatest success”, one that put it in the “front rank” of nuclear military powers.
The KCNA report did not give the date of the missile launch as it customarily omits reference to the time and location of Kim’s activities.
“Through the test results [North Korea] has become a premier military power with flawless nuclear strike capability”, Kim reportedly said.
“The [North] Korean people would deal merciless blows at them with nuclear hammers of justice so that nails of injustice may not come out again, once an opportunity is given, now that the DPRK has in place all substantial means capable of standing up against the USA nuclear hegemony”, KCNA reported.
The North named the SLBM “Pukguksong”, which means polestar in Korean.
In a direct jab at Seoul and Washington, which are holding a 12-day joint military exercise, Kim warned them to refrain “from hurting the dignity and security of the DPRK with prudence and self-control”, and warned that “rash acts will only precipitate their self-destruction”.
State-run broadcaster KRT aired video and photographs showing the purported launch from underwater, with Kim looking on.
The ballistic missile flew about 500 km and fell into the waters inside Japan’s Air Defense Identification Zone, or ADIZ, said South Korean local media. It reportedly could have flown at least twice as far, but the North Koreans fired it at a high angle to avoid getting too close to Japan. “In theory, the North is taking the same logical nuclear strategy as the Western powers”, he said.
“They are not military exercises, but war preparations to invade our country”, said Kim Kyong Ik, a 44-year-old Pyongyang resident.
“The U.S. commitment to the defense of our allies including the Republic of Korea and Japan in the face of these threats remains ironclad”, she said.
Launching long-range ballistic missiles from submarines is stealthier than land launching.
“The core technical indexes of the ballistic missile including the reliability of the phased heat separation and the control and guidance system and the working accuracy of the warhead in the re- entry section perfectly met all requirements for operation”, it added.
It was speculated that the North used a higher angle to shorten the missile’s range and not provoke Japan.
According to KCNA, Kim watched from an observation post as North Korean officials and scientists conducted the test-firing, which the agency said was carried out without “any adverse impact” on neighboring countries.
The missile test is again in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions banning North Korea from using and developing ballistic missile technology. Such missiles have to leave the earth’s atmosphere and re-enter it.
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The three countries, China, Japan, and South Korea show unity in solving the problem and issues regarding the missile launch of North Korea.
