Days after threatening to shoot down any US spy planes that fly into its territory, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the successful test of the nation's newest intercontinental ballistic missile, according to official media on Thursday.
According to the official Korean Central News Agency, the ICBM, which North Korea has only fired once before in April, travelled 1,001 kilometres at a maximum altitude of 6,648 km before crashing into the East Sea, often known as the Sea of Japan.
The launch was a “grand explosion” that shook “the whole planet,” KCNA said. State media footage showed the missile blasting off into the sky.
Kim vowed that “a series of stronger military offensive” would be launched until the United States and South Korea change their policies toward North Korea, the agency added.
The South Korean military had reported the launch on Wednesday, and it was confirmed at a time when tensions between the two Koreas were at an all-time low.
Seoul described Wednesday’s launch as “a grave provocation that damages the peace and security of the Korean peninsula.” The United Nations, the United States and its allies also strongly condemned it.
According to the official Korean Central News Agency, the ICBM, which North Korea has only fired once before in April, travelled 1,001 kilometres at a maximum altitude of 6,648 km before crashing into the East Sea, often known as the Sea of Japan.
The launch was a “grand explosion” that shook “the whole planet,” KCNA said. State media footage showed the missile blasting off into the sky.
Kim vowed that “a series of stronger military offensive” would be launched until the United States and South Korea change their policies toward North Korea, the agency added.
The South Korean military had reported the launch on Wednesday, and it was confirmed at a time when tensions between the two Koreas were at an all-time low.
Seoul described Wednesday’s launch as “a grave provocation that damages the peace and security of the Korean peninsula.” The United Nations, the United States and its allies also strongly condemned it.
