North Korea tests new inter-continental missile thought to be its most powerful

Kim Jong Un said the test would ‘strike extreme uneasiness and horror’ into his nation’s enemies

North Korea said on Friday it had tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) – which it claims is its most powerful to date.

It could signal a possible breakthrough in the country’s efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon, targeting the continental United States.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who guided the test, described the missile as the most powerful weapon of his nuclear forces, that would enhance counterattack abilities.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, with his daughter as they inspect what the country says is the test launch of Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile on April 13
AP

He warned the test of the Hwasong-18 would make enemies “experience a clearer security crisis, and constantly strike extreme uneasiness and horror into them by taking fatal and offensive counter-actions until they abandon their senseless thinking and reckless acts”.

The missile, fired from near Pyongyang, flew about 1,000 km (620 miles) before landing in waters east of North Korea, officials said. North Korea said the test posed no threats to its neighbouring countries.

North Korea has criticised recent US-South Korean joint military exercises amid escalating tensions, and has stepped up weapons tests in the past months.

South Korea’s defence ministry said North Korea was still developing the weapon and that it needed more time and effort to master the technology, indicating that Pyongyang might carry out more tests.

AP

KCNA released photos of Kim watching the launch accompanied by his wife, sister and daughter, and the missile covered in camouflage nets on a mobile launcher.

A state media video showed the missile blasting off from a launch tube, creating a cloud of smoke.

“The development of the new-type ICBM Hwasongpho-18 will extensively reform the strategic deterrence components of the DPRK, radically promote the effectiveness of its nuclear counterattack posture and bring about a change in the practicality of its offensive military strategy,” KCNA said, using the initials of its official name.

Analysts said it is the North’s first use of solid propellants in an intermediate-range or intercontinental ballistic missile.

Developing a solid-fuel ICBM has long been seen as a key goal for North Korea, as it could help the North deploy missiles faster during a war.

Most of the country’s largest ballistic missiles use liquid fuel, which requires them to be loaded with propellant at their launch site – a time-consuming and dangerous process.

Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said: “For any country that operates large-scale, missile based nuclear forces, solid-propellant missiles are incredibly desirable capability because they don’t need to be fuelled immediately prior to use. These capabilities are much more responsive in a time of crisis.”

Vann Van Diepen, a former US government weapons expert, said solid-fuel missiles are easier and safer to operate, and require less logistical support – making them harder to detect and more robust than liquids.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in