Banned N. Korean ICBM Takes Longest Flight Yet
North Korea confirmed on Thursday that it launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which is in violation of UN sanctions. According to South Korea and Japan, the ICBM flew for 86 minutes before falling into the water....
Facts
- North Korea confirmed on Thursday that it launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which is in violation of UN sanctions. According to South Korea and Japan, the ICBM flew for 86 minutes before falling into the water.[1][2]
- This is believed to be the longest time an ICBM from North Korea has ever been in the air. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Pyongyang fired the missile at a 'lofted angle,' meaning it rose almost vertically instead of horizontally.[3]
- According to Japan, which monitored the ICBM's trajectory, the missile traveled at an altitude of over 4K miles for approximately 620 miles before landing in the water just outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.[4][2]
- Japan said that if the ICBM was launched on a normal trajectory, it would've potentially traveled over 15K kilometers (9,320 miles) — meaning it could've reached the US mainland.[5]
- State news agency KCNA reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un witnessed the missile test launch, during which he issued a warning to his adversaries, saying that the ICBM test was a strong message to those he claims had 'intentionally escalated' tensions in the region.[2]
Sources: [1]BBC News, [2]Al Jazeera, [3]CNN, [4]Banglanews24.Com and [5]Kyodo News+.
Narratives
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by State. This launch is unacceptable. To maintain peace and security across the Korean Peninsula and beyond, Pyongyang must stop its provocative and destabilizing acts. North Korea must also promptly resume disarmament talks instead of cooperating with Russia by providing weapons and soldiers.
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by CTVNews and Global Times. The US and its regional allies are to blame for escalated tensions on the peninsula, and this test should wake them up to their approach to relations in this region. North Korea, Russia, and China have never been closer, and the US must rethink its policies if it wants to ensure its security moving forward.
