(Seoul) North Korea confirmed on Sunday that it fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Saturday, saying it was a Hwasong-15 launched as part of a “surprise exercise” after seven weeks of lull, according to the state agency KCNA.
This new missile launch on Saturday afternoon was quickly denounced by the G7 countries, the European Union, South Korea, the United States and Japan, which declared that the missile had fallen in the Economic Zone Japanese exclusive.
Launched from Pyongyang International Airport, the missile “travelled 989 km for 4,015 seconds before accurately hitting the predefined area in the open waters of Korea’s East Sea”, KCNA said, using the name favored by Pyongyang to designate the Sea of Japan.
These data are in line with the measurements made by the Japanese authorities, who on Saturday mentioned a flight of “approximately 66 minutes” and a distance of around 900 km.
According to KCNA, “the drill was held suddenly and without notice.” The firing order was personally signed by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the source said.
Experts wondered on Saturday about the type of missile fired, raising the possibility of a second Hwasong-17 test, but also the hypothesis of an unprecedented test of a solid-fuel missile.
This missile launch comes as South Korea and the United States prepare to conduct a simulation exercise, to be held next week in Washington, to discuss measures to be taken in the event of the use of nuclear weapons by Pyongyang.
Exercises that angered North Korea, which on Friday threatened to react with “unprecedented” force to the upcoming US-South Korean maneuvers, seeing it as preparations for an armed conflict.
Saturday’s surprise launch, according to KCNA, is “clear evidence” of the reliability of Pyongyang’s “powerful physical nuclear deterrent”.