North Korea’s new missile and a happy Kim Jong-un celebrating launch success

Mangalore Today News Network

Nov 30, 2017: After a couple of months of relative inaction, North Korea on Wednesday once again rocked the Korean peninsula as well as the world launching what it said was its most powerful weapon yet.

 

The weapon in question was an intercontinental ballistic missile, one that experts suggested could reach Washington DC in the United States of America, effectively putting the entire country under threat. Following the launch, Pyongyang proclaimed as much, saying it was now a full nuclear force and that it had the ability to target mainland US.

The missile launch was met with swift international condemnation with the US, one of the harshest critics of the Kim Jong-un regime in North Korea, saying the test had brought Washington and Pyongyang "closer" to a war that the Donald Trump administration did not want.

On the other hand, China, often seen as North Korea’s friend, reiterated the China-Russia proposal for North Korea to suspend all nuclear and missile tests and for the US and South Korea to suspend all military exercises.

Meanwhile, the first images of the new missile, which North Korea called Hwasong-15, are out after being released by Pyongyang itself.

In the photos, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un makes a rare appearance; he is seen celebrating with other officials after which he reportedly "declared with pride" North Korea has realised the "great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force", according to a statement.

Perhaps one of the most iconic photos from the lot released by North Korea is that of Kim Jong-un smoking a cigarette and gazing up into the sky as his missile, presumably, completes its successful launch.


The news agency Associated Press spoke to rocket experts to get their initial assessment of the North Korean missile. Here is the AP’s analysis report, reproduced verbatim and unedited:

Courtesy: Indiatoday