Largest missile test: US says Seoul have "more in store"

Seoul: After North Korea (NK) successfully tested its largest-ever intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) recently, a United States official commented that North Korea has "more in store", Agence France-Presse reported.

After the testing, under the direct supervision of NK's President Kim Jong Un, the state-sponsored media KCNA reported that the test ensures the country's readiness for confronting the US. The missile is reportedly potential enough to hit the US mainland.

White House, however, informed that the US sees this testing as a provocation from North Korea.

The new missile is

known as Hwasong-17 and was first unveiled in October 2020. Analysts had referred to it as a monster missile.

According to KCNA, the missile was launched at Pyongyang International Airport. It had travelled a maximum height of 6,248.5 km and a distance of 1,090 km in 4,052 seconds. It landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone but open waters.

After NKs new test, the US has imposed new sanctions on individuals and entities in Russia and NK. Both are accused of bringing sensitive items to NKs missile programme. The European Union said that NK's test was a violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and is a severe threat to international as well as regional peace and security.

Experts say that the test clarifies that NK has made progress on its banned weapons programmes. Now, with multiple warheads, NKs missiles could bypass US missile defence systems.

Ahn Chan-il, a North Korean studies scholar, told AFP that Kim Jong Un wanted to establish himself as a leader who has successfully developed both nuclear weapons and ICBMs. Kim is almost desperate that without such military achievement, the leader has not done much, the expert added.