Adding to the number of missile testings carried out in the last month alone, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has tested its eight ballistic missiles, calling it its most powerful missile launch in five years.
North Korea released images it said were taken by its Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).
The latest tests have again raised alarm amongst many concerned neighbors with Japan and South Korea saying the latest missile reached a maximum altitude of 2000km.
North Korea has been prohibited from ballistic and nuclear weapons tests by the UN and has been hit with strict sanctions. But the East Asian state regularly defies the ban.
US officials on Monday said the recent step-up in activity warranted renewed talks with Pyongyang.
South Korea and Japan were both the first to report the launch on Sunday after detecting it in their anti-missile systems.
They estimated it had flown a moderate distance for an IRBM, covering a distance of about 800km (497 miles) and reaching an altitude of 2,000km before it landed in waters off Japan.
As its custom, North Korea confirmed the missile launch on Monday, a day after, through its state-run media reports.
One of the images shows the moment of launch.
Leader Kim Jong-un was not present to observe Sunday’s launch, compared to three weeks ago, when pictures showed his attendance at the launch of a hypersonic glide missile test – a more advanced type of missile technology designed to circumvent missile-detection systems. Those missiles have only been tested by North Korea three times in total.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
