North Korea conducted a missile test on Sunday, launching an intermediate-range ballistic missile from near Pyongyang. Unlike previous tests, this missile did not fly over Japan but fell in waters between North Korea and Japan. The launch marks North Korea’s first missile test since December 18, when it fired a Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile. North Korea has been increasingly shifting to solid-fuel ballistic missiles, which are easier to transport and faster to launch. The purpose of this test was to evaluate a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile with a hypersonic warhead. North Korea has been developing solid-fuel IRBMs since November 15, when it conducted ground tests of solid-fuel engines for such missiles. The United States and its allies are concerned about North Korea’s missile tests, as the country claims to have developed nuclear warheads that can be mounted on its missiles and has openly threatened to use them in a war. During a recent meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for a vigorous struggle to carry out the nuclear weapons production plan in 2024.
2024-01-14 18:35:18
Original from www.nytimes.com