North Korea tests missile with enormous range
It has long been suspected that North Korea could be preparing another nuclear test. The launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile is likely to cause further unrest - the projectile could reach any point in the USA.
North Korea has tested an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range that covers the entire USA. According to South Korean and Japanese sources, the fired missile reached a maximum altitude of more than 6,000 kilometers and crashed into the sea west of Japan after 73 minutes of flight, about 1,000 kilometers from the launch point. It was a missile with a potential range of more than 15,000 kilometers.
The USA condemned the launch as an "outrageous violation" of UN Security Council resolutions. The council was due to meet on Tuesday at the urging of the USA and other states. Despite the UN bans, North Korea has now tested intercontinental ballistic missiles five times this year. South Korea's Security Council announced that the most recent missile had a solid-fuel rocket engine. This would be North Korea's third test of such a special long-range missile.
North Korea presented the Hwasong-18 missile at a military parade in February. It has long been suspected that North Korea could also be preparing another nuclear test. On Sunday evening (local time), North Korea had already detonated a short-range ballistic missile, which crashed into the sea after a distance of around 570 kilometers. Just a few minutes after the launch, the Ministry of Defense in Pyongyang accused the USA of orchestrating a "preview of a nuclear war". It referred to the arrival of the nuclear-powered submarine "USS Missouri" in South Korea.
The USA is South Korea's most important military ally. The latest missile tests coincide with a visit by North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong Ho to Beijing, during which he also met China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Wang assured him that China was willing to deepen cooperation. The People's Republic is the most important supporter of North Korea, which is almost completely isolated internationally.
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In response to the latest intercontinental ballistic missile test, the USA categorically denounced it as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The USA also has concerns about North Korea potentially conducting another nuclear test, given its history of missile tests and alleged nuclear ambitions.
Source: www.ntv.de
