Considering that the North only publicizes missile launches that have succeeded, the North’s wide coverage of Wednesday launch shows Pyongyang’s satisfaction with the test, an assessment shared by military experts.
Advertisement
“North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats are not imaginary threats any longer, but they’re now becoming real threats”, said South Korean President Park Geun-hye, according to the Associated Press.
Washington also condemned the test and Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross said U.S. commitment to the defence of allies South Korea and Japan remained “ironclad”. So the US dropped the statement, the diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the talks were private.
Kim Jong Un has since 2013 promised to carry out a test of a nuclear warhead.
But the Security Council failed to condemn the move after China sought to include language in a statement opposing the THAAD missile defence system that the United States plans to deploy in South Korea.
“We’ve been emphasizing that the planned deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system is our self-defensive measure to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, not directed at any other third nation”, he added, referring to China’s resistance.
South Korean military officials said the test indicates that the missile could fly 2,500 km at an ordinary trajectory. -South Korean exercises on its agenda.
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, left, escorts Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, second right, and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, right, before their trilateral meeting in Tokyo, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016.
According to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff on Wednesday, “North Korea test-fired one SLBM in waters near Sinpo in South Hamgyong Province at around 5:30 a.m”.
A missile is fired from a submarine in this picture from North Korea’s official Rodong Sinmun daily in April.
Kishida said the ministers reaffirmed their effort in prompting the DPRK to use restraint.
He said the United States is drafting the text of a news statement “and we will have a look at it”.
“There were many people who said North Korea will never achieve its nuclear goals”, said Moon Keun-sik, an analyst at the Korea Defense and Security Forum.
South Korea’s military condemned the launch as an “armed protest” by the DPRK against the start of annual South Korean-U.S. military drills, but acknowledged it was an improvement over previous tests of similar missiles.
The test came just days after North Korea threatened a pre-emptive nuclear strike against South Korean and United States forces who kicked off their annual Ulchi Freedom military drills on Monday.
North Korea’s first successful test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) on August 24 increases the likelihood that North Korea’s SLBMs will become a threat sooner than expected. “Those threats are coming closer each moment”.
“Dear, respected comrade Kim Jong-un said the test-fire of submarine-launched ballistic missile is the greatest success and victory”, KCNA said. During Kim’s four year reign, Pyongyang has conducted 34 missile tests, more than twice as many as his father Kim Jong-il did in 17 years in office.
“I do not guess what ridiculous remarks the U.S. and its followers will make about this test-fire, but I can say their rash acts will only precipitate their self-destruction”, he was quoted as saying.
Advertisement
Pyongyang is believed to be acting in retaliation over joint military drills between its South Korean neighbor and the U.S. which began on Monday. It came two days after South Korea and the USA started annual military exercises that are seen by Pyongyang as a preparation for invasion.
