Saturday, 5 Jul 2025
America Age
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Font ResizerAa
America AgeAmerica Age
Search
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
America Age > Blog > World > North Korea has ‘likely more in store’ after missile test: White House
World

North Korea has ‘likely more in store’ after missile test: White House

Enspirers | Editorial Board
Share
North Korea has ‘likely more in store’ after missile test: White House
SHARE

North Korea likely has “more in store” after successfully test-firing its largest-ever intercontinental ballistic missile this week, a top White House official said Friday.

Thursday’s launch was the first time Pyongyang has fired Kim Jong Un’s most powerful missiles at full range since 2017.

It was conducted under Kim’s “direct guidance”, and ensures his country is ready for “long-standing confrontation” with the US, state media outlet KCNA reported Friday.

“We see this as part of a pattern of testing and provocation from North Korea… we think there is likely more in store,” White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on board Air Force One.

The missile appears to have travelled higher and further than any previous ICBM tested by the nuclear-armed country — including one designed to strike anywhere on the US mainland.

State media photographs showed Kim, wearing his customary black leather jacket and dark sunglasses, striding across the tarmac in front of a huge missile, with other images of him cheering and celebrating the test launch with uniformed military top brass.

– ‘Monster missile’ –

Known as the Hwasong-17, the giant ICBM was first unveiled in October 2020 and dubbed a “monster missile” by analysts.

It had never previously been successfully test-fired, and the launch prompted immediate outrage from Pyongyang’s neighbours and the United States.

“The missile, launched at Pyongyang International Airport, travelled up to a maximum altitude of 6,248.5 km and flew a distance of 1,090 km for 4,052s before accurately hitting the pre-set area in open waters” in the Sea of Japan, KCNA said.

South Korea’s military had estimated the range of the Thursday launch as 6,200 kilometres (3,900 miles) — far longer than the last ICBM, the Hwasong-15, which North Korea tested in November 2017.

The missile landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone, prompting anger from Tokyo, but KCNA said the test had been carried out “in a vertical launch mode” to ease neighbours’ security concerns.

Following Thursday’s test, Washington imposed new sanctions on entities and people in Russia and North Korea who are accused of “transferring sensitive items to North Korea’s missile program”.

The North is already under biting international sanctions for its weapons programs, and the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting over the launch on Friday.

The European Union added to the chorus of condemnation on Friday.

“This is a violation of multiple United Nations Security Council Resolutions and a serious threat to international and regional peace and security,” the bloc said in a statement, calling on Pyongyang to “refrain from any further action that could increase international or regional tensions”.

– ‘Important progress’ –

The test is a clear sign North Korea has made “important qualitative progress” on its banned weapons programmes, said US-based analyst Ankit Panda.

“What’s important about this ICBM is not how far it can go, but what it can potentially carry, which is multiple warheads,” something North Korea has long coveted, he told AFP.

“The North Koreans are on the cusp of significantly increasing the threat to the United States beyond the ICBM capability demonstrated in 2017.”

Multiple warheads would help a North Korean missile evade US missile defence systems.

The North had carried out three ICBM tests prior to Thursday, the last being the Hwasong-15 in 2017.

Long-range and nuclear tests were paused when Kim and then US president Donald Trump engaged in a bout of diplomacy which collapsed in 2019. Talks have since stalled.

Thursday’s launch, one of nearly a dozen North Korean weapons tests this year, marked a dramatic return to long-range testing.

It came just days after one last week, likely also of the Hwasong-17, failed, exploding after launch.

– Compensation –

“This test also appears to ‘compensate’ for last week’s failed projectile launch — handsomely so,” Soo Kim, RAND Corporation Policy Analyst and former CIA analyst, told AFP.

“The regime appears quite pleased with the outcome of the test,” she added.

The country’s new ICBM launch comes at a delicate time for the region, with South Korea going through a presidential transition until May, and the US distracted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The official Rodong Sinmun newspaper carried a photograph of a haggard-looking Kim signing papers at his desk, with an image of a handwritten “I approve the test launch” scrawled over a report.

“Kim Jong Un wants to ultimately establish himself as a leader who has successfully developed both nuclear weapons and ICBMs,” Ahn Chan-il, a North Korean studies scholar, told AFP.

“He is almost desperate as without such military achievements, he really hasn’t done much,” he added, pointing to the isolated country’s Covid- and sanctions-battered economy.

ceb-cdl/leg/dw

Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article North Korea confirms test-firing of biggest ICBM North Korea confirms test-firing of biggest ICBM
Next Article E.U. Takes Aim at Big Tech’s Power With Landmark Digital Act E.U. Takes Aim at Big Tech’s Power With Landmark Digital Act

Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!

Our commitment to accuracy, impartiality, and delivering breaking news as it happens has earned us the trust of a vast audience. Stay ahead with real-time updates on the latest events, trends.
FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
LinkedInFollow
MediumFollow
QuoraFollow
- Advertisement -
Ad image

Popular Posts

Iran Ramps Up Uranium Enrichment While Stalling Probe

(Bloomberg) -- Sign up for our Middle East newsletter and follow us @middleeast for news…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Costa Rica chaos a warning that ransomware threat remains

WASHINGTON (AP) — Teachers unable to get paychecks. Tax and customs systems paralyzed. Health officials…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Close to two-thirds of Ukrainian children displaced since Russian invasion’s start: UNICEF

Nearly two-thirds of the children in Ukraine have been displaced since Russia launched its invasion…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Africa’s week in pictures: 1-7 April 2022

A selection of the week's best photos from across the continent and beyond:Short presentational grey…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

You Might Also Like

Oasis reunion tour: observe the primary gig in Cardiff – reside!
World

Oasis reunion tour: observe the primary gig in Cardiff – reside!

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
First Factor: ‘Corrupt kleptocracy’ – Democrats livid over passage of Trump invoice
World

First Factor: ‘Corrupt kleptocracy’ – Democrats livid over passage of Trump invoice

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Dwelling secretary rejects Zarah Sultana’s declare Labour failing to enhance lives – UK politics reside
World

Dwelling secretary rejects Zarah Sultana’s declare Labour failing to enhance lives – UK politics reside

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Russia launches a whole bunch of drones at Ukraine simply hours after Putin-Trump name – Europe reside
World

Russia launches a whole bunch of drones at Ukraine simply hours after Putin-Trump name – Europe reside

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
America Age
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


America Age: Your instant connection to breaking stories and live updates. Stay informed with our real-time coverage across politics, tech, entertainment, and more. Your reliable source for 24/7 news.

Company
  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement
Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability
Terms of Use
  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?