New North Korean missile a monster: experts
North Korea released numerous images Thursday that it says are of the new intercontinental ballistic missile it claims is capable of striking “the whole mainland of the U.S.”
Dozens of photos of the Hwasong-15 missile were published in state media. North Korea claims to have achieved its goal of becoming a nuclear state with the missile launch on Wednesday.
South Korea’s military says North Korea’s new intercontinental ballistic missile is potentially capable of striking targets up to 13,000 kilometres away when fired at an operational angle, which would put Washington, D.C., within reach.
However, Seoul’s Defence Ministry told South Korean lawmakers today that it is unclear how close the Hwasong-15 is to being combat ready.
The ministry said further reviews are needed to determine whether the missile’s warhead would survive atmospheric reentry, be accurately guided to the target and detonate properly.
The ministry’s assessment is similar to most private analyses that followed North Korea’s flight test of the missile Wednesday and the release of photographs and video of the launch on Thursday.
Michael Duitsman, a researcher at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey, California, tweeted soon after the photos were published: “This is very big missile. … And I don’t mean ‘Big for North Korea.’ Only a few countries can produce missiles of this size, and North Korea just joined the club.”
U.S. President Trump tweeted Wednesday: “Just spoke to President XI JINPING of China concerning the provocative actions of North Korea. Additional major sanctions will be imposed on North Korea today. This situation will be handled!”
Trump later called the North’s leader, Kim Jong Un, “Little Rocket Man” and “a sick puppy.”
Members of the U.N. Security Council condemned the missile launch at an emergency meeting in New York.