North Korea tests ‘guidance of warhead’

South Korea casts doubt on success of missile re-entry technology

North Korea said yesterday it had successfully tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile, confirming reliable late-stage guidance of the warhead, indicating further advances in its ambition to be able to reach the United States.

The North fired the missile into waters off its east coast on Sunday, its second missile test in a week, which South Korea said dashed the hopes of the South’s new liberal government under President Moon Jae-in for peace between the neighbours.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un supervised the test of the Pukguksong-2, which also verified the functioning of a solid-fuel engine, and ordered it for deployment in field action, the KCNA state news agency said.

The UN Security Council is due to meet today behind closed doors to discuss the latest test, which defies Security Council resolutions and sanctions, at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea, diplomats said on Sunday.

The test could also alter the dynamics of Moon’s plan to review a controversial deployment of the Thaad US anti-missile system in the South that is angrily opposed by China, which sees its powerful radar as a threat to its security. “Saying with pride that the missile’s rate of hits is very accurate and Pukguksong-2 is a successful strategic weapon, he approved the deployment of this weapon system for action,” KCNA said, quoting Kim.

‘Earth is beautiful’

The launch verified the reliability and accuracy of the solid-fuel engine’s operation and stage separation and the latestage guidance of the nuclear warhead which was recorded by a device mounted on the warhead, KCNA said. “Viewing the images of the Earth being sent real-time from the camera mounted on the ballistic missile, Supreme leader Kim Jongun said it feels grand to look at the Earth from the rocket we launched and the entire world looks so beautiful,” KCNA said.

The Pukguksong-2 flew about 500km, reaching an altitude of 560km, South Korea’s military said. The South’s military said the test provided more “meaningful data” for the North’s missile programme but unsure whether the North mastered the re-entry technology.