In a photo released from North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on August 25, 2016 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un inspecting a test-fire of strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile at an undisclosed location.
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After North Korea’s previous missile test, the USA also proposed a press statement, but diplomats said China insisted on language linking it to US plans to place a high-tech missile defense system in South Korea.
“Dear, respected comrade Kim Jong-un said the test-fire of submarine-launched ballistic missile is the greatest success and victory”, KCNA said.
Deputy Russian UN Ambassador Petr Iliichev said “the Americans promised to circulate a press statement” on the issue but he had not seen a draft yet.
The missile was sacked from a submarine submerged off the northeastern port of Simpo, flying 300 miles towards Japan – far exceeding the range of any previous tests.
However diplomats expected further haggling with China, Pyongyang’s main ally, over the wording.
Jon said that the latest submarine-launched missile didn’t cause any harm to the security of neighboring countries.
Kim was pictured laughing and joking with officials as he hailed the missile launch “the greatest success”. They said he provided guidance from an observation post by giving the order for the submarine to submerge in and fire the missile, called “Pukguksong”. But the North has deployed missiles whose reliability has not been demonstrated through test launches.
South Korea does not now have any ballistic missile defenses against a SLBM.
If fired at the optimum angle and fully fueled, it could travel over 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles), the source said.
Given the missile flew more than 500 kilometers, military analysts said that the firing was considered successful.
A US think tank that monitors military activity in the communist country said the North still faces significant technological challenges in its SLBM program, including building a new class of submarine to carry the missile. However, outside experts have said there is yet no firm evidence to back up that claim or show Kim’s military had mastered the technology to bring a live warhead back into the atmosphere and guide it to strike a target.
A North Korean submarine test-launched a ballistic missile in the East China Sea on Wednesday as the USA and South Korean militaries were conducting joint drills that Pyongyang has called a threat.
Concerned that the drills are preparations for a possible invasion of North Korea, Kim threatened to launch a “nuclear strike” against the “nuclear war maniacs” for the “slightest sign of aggression”.
After a series of flops, North Korea launched a missile from a submarine near its east coast port of Sinpo early Wednesday.
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Many outside experts say North Korea doesn’t yet have a functioning long-range nuclear missile capable of reaching the continental USA, but they acknowledge that the North has been making steady progress in its weapons programs and could one day develop such a weapon.
