‘A test-fire of strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile was successfully conducted under the guidance of supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army Kim Jong Un, ‘ the report said. This launch marked what weapons analysts called a clear step forward for its nuclear strike ambitions.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been pictured watching the apparent firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile.
“China opposes the developing process of nuclear missiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, opposes any remarks and actions that will trigger tension, and opposes all measures that violate the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2270”, Wang said at a joint press conference with South Korea’s foreign minister Yun Byung-se and Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida.
After what North Korea claimed was the successful test-firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile on Wednesday, Pyongyang is on track to develop the capability to strike targets in the region, including Japan, by 2020, given the speed of its development, according to a website run by a US research institute.
North Korea also launched a SLBM from a submarine in April.
North Korea’s growing missile threats have been unsettling enough for the United States and South Korea to decide to deploy the American-built Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or Thaad, battery in the South by the end of next year despite a vehement protest from China, the New York Times reported.
Japan confirmed the missile reached its air defence identification zone – a first for a North Korean missile.
Current UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, but Pyongyang has continued to carry out numerous launches following its fourth nuclear test in January. Kim “strongly” warned the USA and South Korea from “hurting the dignity and security of North Korea” if they want to avoid military strikes against them.
“We are strengthening the capacity of Korean Air and Missile Defense through preparations to introduce a ballistic missile warning system”, said an official from South Korea’s Defense Ministry.
Neither KRT nor KCNA gave the date of the launch.
On a political level, the test is also thought to register North Korea’s opposition to the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian joint exercises that the South Korean and USA militaries are conducting between August 24 and Sep. 2.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said early today that his country had achieved the “success of all successes” in launching a missile from a submarine, saying it essentially gave the country full nuclear-attack capability and put the USA mainland within striking distance. In order for an SLBM to succeed, a missile is required to have a range of 300 kilometers, a requirement the North surpassed by 200 kilometers Wednesday.
Many outside experts say North Korea doesn’t yet have a functioning long-range nuclear missile capable of reaching the continental U.S.
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A missile is purportedly launched in this photo distributed by the North Korean government on Thursday. After the launch Kim is seen smiling and being congratulated by the officers. He also said the North could develop more submarines by 2020. There has been no immediate confirmation of whether North Korea also used the launch to test the operation of a nuclear detonator.
