Missile ‘strike drill’ confirmed
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA >> North Korea confirmed Sunday that it had fired multiple rocket launchers and “tactical guided weapons” from its east coast the previous day under the personal supervision of leader Kim Jong Un, with experts saying the test included a short-range ballistic missile.
The test does not invalidate North Korea’s selfdeclared moratorium on inter-continental ballistic missile tests, but it clearly raises tensions with Washington and Seoul.
“The purpose of the drill was to estimate and inspect the operating ability and the accuracy of striking duty performance of large-caliber long-range multiple rocket launchers and tactical guided weapons by defense units in the frontline area and on the eastern front,” staterun Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
Kim, who was pictured
scowling and looking tough with binoculars in his hand, urged his troops to bear in mind “the iron truth that genuine peace and security are ensured and guaranteed only by powerful strength,” KCNA said.
Earlier, President Donald Trump appeared to play down the threat and leave the door open to diplomacy.
“Anything in this very interesting world is possible, but I believe that Kim Jong Un fully realizes the great economic potential of North Korea, & will do nothing to interfere or end it. He also knows that I am with him & does not want to break his promise to me. Deal will happen!” he tweeted.
Jeffrey Lewis, a scholar at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, said photos issued by KCNA showed the test of a new short-range ballistic missile.
“North Korea tested a short-range ballistic missile, which makes this very similar to 2006 when North Korea moved to end its flight test moratorium starting with shortrange missiles that didn’t technically violate it,” he tweeted.
“At the time, the Bush Administration downplayed the first test of the KN-02 (a short-range ballistic missile) in March. Then, as now, the moratorium only covered longer-range missiles. But in hindsight, it was a warning of the fireworks to come in July,” he added.