North Korea fires ‘new type’ of missile

According to South Korea and Japan, North Korea has launched another ballistic missile. “North Korea seems one novel rocket to have fired, which may be powered by solid fuel,” the South Korean military leadership told the AFP news agency. Should the missile actually be a solid rocket be, this would be a technological breakthrough for the North Korean military.

The rocket was launched from a platform at 07:23 (local time) with a medium or longer range and 1.000 Kilometer flown far, said the South Korean military. She then landed in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of ​​Japan.

Solid rockets vs. liquid fuel

So far, North Korea’s missile arsenal consisted only of missiles liquid fuel are driven. solid fuel rockets are however easier to transport and store what their discovery makes more difficult. They also prepare for launch faster than liquid-fuel rockets.

“South Korean and US intelligence are analyzing the details,” the military leadership said, adding that “they are working closely with the US to maintain the greatest possible preparedness.” The USA condemned North Korea for testing a “long-range ballistic missile“.

Alarm raised in Japan

Japan confirmed the rocket launch. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the missile fired by North Korea did not fall on Japanese territory. In the meantime, the residents of the Japanese island of Hokkaido to the evacuation called. Local officials later gave the all-clear and said there was “no way” the missile would hit the island.

In the past few weeks, North Korea had fired a number of missiles and, according to its own statements, one nuclear underwater drone tested. Earlier this week, according to state media, ruler Kim Jong Un called for the country’s war deterrence capabilities to be expanded in a “more practical and offensive” way.

ICBMs at military parade

At a meeting of the central military commission, it was about dealing with the “escalating stepsThe US and South Korea have gone to “unleash a war of aggression,” reported North Korea’s state news agency KCNA.

In February, North Korea had a Military parade so many ICBMs presented like never before. Experts explained at the time that including a novel solid fuel rocket could have been.

Military tensions in the region

Die military tensions on the Korean Peninsula have recently worsened drastically. The communist leadership in Pyongyang keeps threatening one military escalation in the region. In the face of North Korea’s ongoing provocations, South Korea and the United States have strengthened their defense cooperation.

Exceeds the range of medium-range missiles 800 Kilometerby long-range missiles 5.500 Kilometer. UN decisions ban North Korea from testing ballistic missiles of any range.

Such rockets can be equipped with one or more nuclear warheads be equipped. The country is subject to harsh international sanctions for its nuclear weapons and missile programs.