North Korea goes ahead with ICB missile launch despite a warning from the US
As per the apprehensions already raised by South Korea’s national security advisor, Kim Tae-hyo, North Korea has gone ahead with its missile launch test. It is reported to be the most advanced and powerful intercontinental ballistic long-range missile. The intercontinental missile, a solid-fuel-based one, was fired on Monday morning at about 08:24 local time (23:24 on Sunday GMT) from the capital, Pyongyang.
As per the Japanese and South Korean officials, who were watching the missile test closely, the missile traveled for exactly 73 minutes and covered about 1,000 km (621 miles). It finally landed in the west of Hokkaido, the second-largest island in Japan.
The West immediately condemned the missile test, as the Korean dictator went ahead with the test despite the US warning him against it. A recent meeting was held in Washington between US and South Korean officials to discuss the imminent threat, as it was already apparent that Pyongyang was planning for the test.
Kim Jong-un declared last year that Pyongyang is an “irreversible nuclear power”. After the meeting between the US and South Korea, North Korea showed its belligerence and announced that it would take more offensive measures. The recent test is the continuation of the ICBM series of tests that Kim has ordered and was the fifth such successful launch this year. Recently, North Korea launched a spy satellite into orbit to watch over the military installations of South Korea and the US in the area. Despite the sanctions of the United Nations on the country marred by Kim’s dictatorship, it went ahead despite the warning of the US.
After the launch of the spy satellite by North Korea, South had partially suspended the military agreement with the North adversary. The agreement was meant to limit military activity along the border to reduce the imminent clashes between the two countries. As a counter-move, North Korea also withdrew from the agreement in totality and showed that it has no effect from the pressure from any quarters. As a mark of aggression, North Korea rearmed its soldiers in the demilitarized zone areas also.
