Missile launched
Kim Jong-un congratulates himself on a successful operation as UN Security Council prepare to meet over N. Korea’s violation.
SEOUL: The UN Security Council is to hold an urgent meeting after North Korea announced it has successfully tested a new ballistic missile, a launch seen as a challenge to President Donald Trump.
The North’s leader Kim Jong-un “expressed great satisfaction over the possession of another powerful nuclear attack means which adds to the tremendous might of the country”, state news agency KCNA said.
Permanent Security Council members China and Russia joined a chorus of international criticism of Sunday’s launch by the nuclear-armed nation from near the western city of Kusong.
The council were meeting following a request by the United States, Japan and South Korea.
North Korea is barred under UN resolutions from carrying out ballistic missile launches or nuclear weapons tests.
But last year, it conducted two nuclear tests and numerous missile launches in its quest to develop a nuclear weapons system capable of hitting the US mainland.
Sunday’s missile was launched at a near-vertical angle, igniting in mid-air after lift-off and switching direction while in flight.
Photos released by KCNA showed the missile blasting into the sky with a smiling Kim watching from the command centre, and standing on the launch field surrounded by dozens of cheering soldiers and scientists.
It said Kim “personally guided” preparations for Sunday’s test, which it described as a surface- to- surface medium long- range Pukguksong-2, a “Korean-style new type strategic weapon system”. KCNA said the missile was powered by a solid-fuel engine, which required a far shorter refuelling time than conventional liquid fuel-powered missiles, according to Yun Dukmin of the state-run Institute for Foreign Affairs and Security in Seoul.
“They leave little warning time and therefore pose greater threat to opponents,” he said, adding that such missiles were harder to detect before launch by satellite surveillance.
The North had previously made claims for its weapons capabilities that analysts considered unconvincing. But Seoul’s military confirmed the North’s claim on the solid-fuel engine, suggesting progress in its capabilities.
Pyongyang’s latest announcement was the first time a Pukguksong-2 has been mentioned, although last August it test-fired what it said was a submarine-launched ballistic missile marked as a Pukguksong-1, a name which translated as “North Star”.
An official with the South Korean military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff told reporters the Pukguksong-2 appeared to have been fired based on the same “cold launch” technology used in last year’s SLBM test.
The method is considered safer and easier to hide its original launch location.
The South had said that Sunday’s launch was designed as a test for Trump, who responded to the provocation by pledging “100%” support for Washington’s key regional ally Japan.
“Today’s missile launch ... is aimed at drawing global attention to the North by boasting its nuclear and missile capabilities”, Seoul’s defence ministry said.