North Korea has test-fired what many analysts are describing as a “new type of ballistic missile”. The test comes barely a day after a new president took office in the South.
A report by the Japanese officials indicates that the missile went as far as an altitude of 2,000 kilometers. It was launched from north-western Kusong.
The newly elected South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, termed the launch a reckless provocation even as he seeks to establish deeper ties with the north.
United States President Donald Trump reacted by calling for stronger sanctions on North Korea and China urged for restrain.
North Korea has been engaged in a series of missile tests banned by the United Nations, triggering international alarm and increased U.S. tensions.
Mr. Kim’s administration conducted two missile launches last month, all of which were a fail.
Has the Country Made Steps in Ballistic Missiles?
Officials are yet to establish the nature of the missile but it is believed that the test is probably a new of its kind. They estimate that the country may have made tremendous steps and developed a longer range missile compared to all the previous versions.
Explanation by the Japanese defense minister states that it gained altitude of about 30 minutes after which it fell into the Sea of Japan, raising concerns that it is a new type of missile.
Tomomi Inada said it covered a distance of about 700km (435 miles), which is higher than the intermediate-range missile tested in February.
North Korea is keen to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile which has the capability of flying hundreds of kilometers outside the earth’s atmosphere.
“These repeated missile launches by North Korea are a grave threat to our country and are in clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters following the launch.
Abe maintained that the behaviour is unacceptable adding that he expects North Korea will likely continue to its provocative behavior on the international community. Mr. Abe said that Japan will not desist from collaborating with the U.S. and South Korea in order to guarantee public safety.
The U.S. Response
Washington was similarly displeased, going by the tone of its statement. It condemned the North Korea ‘menace’, making unprecedented references to Russia which constitutes the six-party talks that aim to dismantle the North’s nuclear program.
“With the missile impacting so close to Russian soil — in fact, closer to Russia than Japan — the president cannot imagine that Russia is pleased,” read the statement.
It continued to urge all nations to wake up after the latest provocation.