North Korea Continues War Drills, Launches Most Powerful Missile in Years

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

North Korea ramped up its recent bevy of weapons tests on Sunday, firing what analysts say is the most powerful missile the isolated regime has tested in five years.

Pyongyang’s seventh launch of January 2022 traveled 1,242 miles up and landed in the ocean about 500 miles away, said officials with the Japanese and South Korean governments. No damage or injuries were reported.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff told Yonhap that it detected the missile, which was fired at a steep angle from Jagang province, at around 7:52 a.m. local time. The military body also confirmed the distance and height the projectile flew, while adding that the missile hit a top speed of Mach 16, or 16 times the speed of sound.

“Our military is tracking and monitoring related North Korean movements and maintaining a readiness posture,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff told reporters.

Meanwhile, South Korean President Moon Jae-in stated that Pyongyang may have broken North Korea’s 2018 pledge to stop testing long-range missiles and nuclear devices.

Arguing that Sunday’s test violated the United Nations Security Council resolutions, Moon asserted the move is a “challenge toward the international society’s efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, stabilize peace and find a diplomatic solution” to the nuclear impasse between North Korea and the rest of the world.

The regime of Kim Jong Un “should stop its actions that create tensions and pressure and respond to the dialogue offers by the international community including South Korea and the United States,” Moon continued

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command condemned the launch and said that “we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, territory or that of our allies,” and “we will continue to monitor the situation.”

Sunday’s test was North Korea’s seventh round of launches this month. The unusual frequency of tests indicates its intent to pressure the Biden administration over long-stalled nuclear negotiations as pandemic-related difficulties put further stress on an economy broken by decades of mismanagement and crippling U.S.-led sanctions over its nuclear weapons program.

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi also told reporters that the missile was the longest-range the North has tested since its Hwasong-15 ICBM in November 2017.

Kim last year announced a new five-year plan for developing weapons and issued an ambitious wish list that included hypersonic weapons, spy satellites, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, and submarine-launched nuclear missiles.

State media said Friday that Kim visited an unspecified munitions factory producing a “major weapons system,” and that the workers pledged loyalty to their leader who “smashes with his bold pluck the challenges of U.S. imperialists and their vassal forces.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

By Jack Phillips

Read Original Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

The Choices We Make

Death and disagreement are inevitable. Love and hate are choices. We will all die. Before we do, what choices will we make?

Elon Musk Speaks at Unite the Kingdom Rally

Tommy Robinson held rally, with Elon Musk appearing virtually, calling attention to leftist politicians who allow foreign immigrants to invade England.

Doxed Democrats Are Getting Fired Left and Left

Not a misprint because a title of “left and...

Hold Up, Feds, Without Federalism, There Is No USA

Federalism is essential to governing the U.S., yet the federal government is undermining it by bribing states to implement unnecessary federal programs.

A Widow Inspires The World

Erika Kirk moved the nation with her speech two days after her husband’s assassination, vowing to continue his mission and grow Turning Point USA.

Parents Sue Character.AI for Allegedly Leading Kids to Sexual Abuse, Suicidal Behavior

Parents allege in three lawsuits that Character.AI’s chatbots sexually abused their children and drove them toward suicidal thoughts and behavior.

Tyler Robinson Makes First Appearance in Court, Faces Capital Murder Charge in Charlie Kirk Assassination

Tyler Robinson remained motionless throughout his first court appearance on capital murder and other charges after the shooting death of Charlie Kirk.

Trump to Appeal Ruling Allowing Fed Governor Lisa Cook to Keep Her Job

The Trump admin will appeal a three-judge panel’s ruling that prevents the president from firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.

Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Murderer Confessed Shortly After Shooting, Messages Show

The man accused of murdering conservative influencer Charlie Kirk confessed to the killing in text messages, authorities said on Sept. 16.

Rubio Says US Visa Revocations Underway After Charlie Kirk Death Celebrations

SoS Marco Rubio said foreign nationals who made celebratory comments over Charlie Kirk’s assassination will have their U.S. visas revoked.

Trump Supports Designating Antifa a Terrorist Organization

President Trump said he would support designating the antifa movement a terrorist organization in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination last week.

US Conducts Strike on Another Drug Boat From Venezuela: Trump

Three people were killed in a U.S. strike on a Venezuelan drug boat, President Donald Trump announced on Sept. 15.

Trump Signs Memo Targeting Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising

President Trump signed a memo to ensure drug ads give fair, balanced, and complete information to protect and inform American consumers.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central