NK tests 2 medium-range missile
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NUCLEAR-ARMED North Korea conducted two back-to-back tests of a new medium-range missile yesterday, with both achieving a significant increase in flight distance over previous failed launches, South Korea’s Defence Ministry said.
Both tests were believed to be of a intermediate-range Musudan missile — theoretically capable of reaching US bases as far away as Guam.
International condemnation was swift, with the United States, NATO and Japan labelling the launches a clear violation of UN resolutions, and South Korea vowing to push for tighter sanctions on Pyongyang.
China cautioned against “any action that may escalate tension” and called for a resumed dialogue on the North’s nuclear program.
Existing UN Security Council measures ban North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology.
The first test shortly before 6am was deemed to have failed after flying around 150 kilometers over the Sea of Japan.
According to Japanese military monitors, the second missile attained a height of 1,000 kilometers and a range of 400 kilometers — a trajectory some experts suggested was calculated to avoid any violation of Japanese air space.
Four failed Musudan tests earlier this year all either exploded on the mobile launch pad or shortly after take-off.
A successful test would mark a major step forward for a weapons program that ultimately aspires to develop a proven nuclear strike capability against the US mainland.
US State Department spokesman John Kirby said the latest launches would only increase global efforts to counter North Korea’s illicit weapons program. “We intend to raise our concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding (North Korea) accountable for these provocative actions,” Kirby said in a statement.
Japanese broadcaster NHK quoted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as saying such tests “cannot be tolerated,” while NATO “strongly condemned” the launch in a statement from its secretary general.
South Korea’s foreign ministry said the tests underlined “the hypocrisy and deceptiveness” of Pyongyang’s recent offers of military talks with Seoul.
The tests came with military tensions on the divided Korean peninsula still running high following Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch a month later that saw the UN Security Council impose its toughest sanctions to date on the North.
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