North Korea Missile Test: North Korea, which is counted among the most mysterious countries in the world, has claimed the test of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The North Korean government says they have developed a solid-fueled ICBM with a range of thousands of kilometres.
This missile has been named ‘Hwasong-18 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile’. Its pictures are now widely discussed in the US and South Korean media, and analysts around the world are investigating North Korea’s claim of developing an ICBM. Some US analysts say the new ICBM could make it easier for North Korea to launch a nuclear attack. According to analysts, North Korean defense engineers working day and night in the missile program have the ability to produce ICBMs, and therefore they have the ability to carry out long-range nuclear strikes.
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Hwasong-18 test surprises US
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the new missile named Hwasong-18 was launched after 7 am on Thursday It passed close to the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido before splashing down in waters east of the Korean Peninsula. KCNA told that during the missile test, Korean dictator leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter were present on the spot. where Kim said, "Now our ICBM can be used as a powerful strategic strike instrument of greater military efficiency."
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KCNA quoted Kim as saying that the Hwasong-18 would be able to launch a retaliatory nuclear strike to suppress attacks and protect the nation. On the other hand, some analysts have also believed that North Korea already has the capability to fire nuclear weapons, although its new missile could increase it further.
North Korean ICBMs not a game changer!
Ankit Panda, a nuclear policy expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said, "I think this missile test shows its technological progress, but I would not see it as a game changer." At the same time, the Defense Ministry of South Korea said that North Korea still "More time and effort is needed to successfully perfect its solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile technology."
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According to a report in American media CNN, this was North Korea’s 12th missile test this year, and it was done after the end of the biggest military exercise between the US and South Korea earlier this month. < /p>
How far can ICBMs hit?
According to international experts, solid-fuel ICBMs are suitable for attacking any country in the world, and Their firepower can also be from 8 thousand to 14 thousand. China has even claimed to have developed an ICBM with a range of 16,000 km.