This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, Nov. 1, shows the North firing the new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile the previous day, guided by its leader Kim Jong-un. Yonhap
North Korea said Friday it successfully test-fired the new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) the previous day, with its leader Kim Jong-un saying the country has secured an "irreversible hegemonic position" in developing delivery means of nuclear weapons.
Guided by Kim, North Korea carried out a "crucial" missile test that set a milestone in "perpetuating the absolute superiority" of the country's armed forces, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The South Korean military said Thursday it detected the missile, fired at a lofted angle, at about 7:10 a.m. from the North's Pyongyang area and said it flew about 1,000 kilometers before coming down in the East Sea. It assessed the missile as a new solid-fuel ICBM.
The ICBM launch, the first in almost a year, came just days before the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5. Observers said the North's provocation was likely meant to flaunt its capability to deliver a nuclear warhead to the U.S. mainland and divert attention from recent condemnation over its troop deployment to Russia.
North Korea described the latest ICBM as an "ultra-powerful offensive means" and an "ultimate" version of its long-range missile series.
"The test of the latest strategic weapon system updated the recent records of the strategic missile capability of the DPRK and demonstrated the modernity and creditability of its world's most powerful strategic deterrent," the KCNA said, using the acronym of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The North's leader expressed satisfaction at the fact that the successful test proved the "hegemonic position" that the North has "secured in the development and manufacture of nuclear delivery means of the same kind is absolutely irreversible," the KCNA said.
The Hwasong-19 ICBM, along with the Hwasong-18, will serve as the "primary means" of defending the country and deterring enemy aggression, the KCNA reported, quoting Kim as describing the test as a demonstration of the country's "counteraction will."
Kim also reaffirmed that the country's line of bolstering its nuclear forces will never change, and no threat to its security sphere should be tolerated amid the tightening nuclear alliances and military maneuvers of its rivals, it said.
This photo of a transporter erector launcher is carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, Nov. 1, a day after the country fired the new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile, guided by its leader Kim Jong-un. Yonhap
North Korea said the Hwasong-19 traversed 1,001.2 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 7,687.5 kilometers and flew for 5,156 seconds. It was assessed as having the longest flight time and reaching the highest apogee for a North Korean missile.
Pointing to the improvement in the North's missile capabilities, some experts raised speculations that North Korea may have received technical assistance of advanced weapons from Russia in return for its support for Moscow's war.
Photos carried by state media showed the missile being fired from an 11-axle transporter erector launcher (TEL). Kim's daughter, believed to be named Ju-ae, accompanied him in inspecting the missile launch."
The latest missile appears to be longer than the Hwasong-18, which was last test-fired from a nine-axle TEL in December, and the color of its flame and other characteristics suggest that the missile was powered by solid fuel.
The more rounded warhead section of the Hwasong-19 suggests the potential for using multiple warheads to increase the missile's striking power, analysts said.
Seoul's unification ministry assessed that the latest launch appears intended for various purposes, including putting pressure on the U.S. ahead of its upcoming presidential election.
"The latest firing appears intended to distract attention from the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia and to secure achievements ahead of the year-end plenary session of the Workers' Party," said Kim In-ae, deputy spokesperson at the ministry.
She also denounced the latest ballistic launch as a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and "a clear provocation" to security on the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)