Seoul, South Korea – In a provocative move that has heightened tensions in the region, North Korea conducted a successful test of its latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-18, on Wednesday. State media reports hailed the missile as the core of the country’s nuclear strike force and a stern warning to the United States and its adversaries.
The launch, initially detected by South Korea and Japan, has drawn swift condemnation from the United States, as well as leaders in Seoul and Tokyo. In response, the United Nations Security Council, which has previously imposed resolutions to curb North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons development, is set to convene a public meeting on Thursday to discuss the missile launch.
The Hwasong-18, first flown in April, marks a significant advancement for North Korea’s missile capabilities. It is the nation’s first ICBM to utilize solid propellants, allowing for quicker deployment in times of conflict. The state news agency, KCNA, described the test-fire as an essential step in further developing the strategic nuclear force of the country while serving as a strong practical warning to its adversaries.
Citing the deployment of submarines and bombers to the Korean peninsula, as well as nuclear war planning with South Korean allies, KCNA accused Washington of escalating tensions. The news agency emphasized that the military security situation has reached a critical phase of a nuclear crisis beyond the Cold War era.
Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test and stated that North Korea would take increasingly robust measures to protect itself until the United States and its allies abandon their hostile policies, according to the report.
The success of the Hwasong-18 test is notable, considering North Korea’s limited experience with large, multi-stage solid-propellant missiles. Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noted the achievement in his report for NK PRO, a Seoul-based monitoring organization focused on North Korea. The missile’s 74-minute flight time was the longest recorded for a North Korean test, and the second and third stages followed a lofted trajectory to ensure safety.
Japan reported that the missile landed in the sea east of the Korean peninsula, approximately 250km west of its northern island, Okushiri. In response to the ICBM launch, Japan’s defense ministry stated that four of its F-2 jets, along with two U.S. Air Force F-15C jets, conducted joint air drills to counter the intensifying national security environments, including the North Korean threat.
Photographs released by KCNA showcased the Hwasong-18 being launched from a transporter erector launcher (TEL), a road-mobile, a multi-wheeled vehicle designed for firing missiles from unpredictable locations, reports Reuters. Analysts observed that the launch occurred from the same spot outside Pyongyang as the missile’s first test, suggesting purpose-built infrastructure to support the launches.
As tensions escalate and the international community grapples with North Korea’s growing missile capabilities, the successful test of the Hwasong-18 serves as a stark reminder of the country’s determination to advance its nuclear program and assert its influence on the global stage. The security council meeting scheduled for Thursday will seek to address this concerning development and explore potential measures to ensure regional stability.
