◀ anchor ▶
Hello everyone.
The missiles that North Korea launches this year are increasingly threatening.
The seventh missile that North Korea fired yesterday was a medium- and long-range ballistic missile Hwasong-12, and released a photo of the launch.
It is the immediate predecessor of ICBM, an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the continental United States.
The observation that actually launching an ICBM is now only a matter of time is gaining momentum.
First, reporter Son Ryung reports.
◀ reporter ▶
Heavy missiles soar with flames, and smoke billows next to mobile projectiles.
This is a picture of the Hwasong-12 that North Korea launched yesterday, claiming to be a medium- and long-range ballistic missile.
[조선중앙TV]
“The inspection and firing test of the mid- to long-range ballistic missile ‘Hwasong-12’ was conducted from the northwestern region of Korea to the East Sea of Korea with the highest angle launch system.”
In particular, he stated that the purpose of the firing was ‘check shooting’, which is a random quality check.
It was to show off that the Hwasong-12 was actually deployed, and at the same time created a justification for the missile launch.
The range of the Hwasong-12 is up to 5,000 km, and it can hit Guam, the US territory, beyond Northeast Asia.
It is known as the immediate step ahead of the ‘Hwasong-14’, an intercontinental ballistic missile that reaches the US mainland.
For this reason, some analysts believe that the missile launch partially broke the moratorium on the intercontinental ballistic missile launch, which was declared just before the US-DPRK summit in Singapore.
[정성장/세종연구소 북한연구센터장]
“Kim Jong-un announced that he would stop testing medium and long-range missiles in 2018. (However) On January 19th, he instructed him to consider whether to keep the existing moratorium as it is, and as a result, he launched the Hwasong-12…”
Shortly after North Korea’s public report, Defense Minister Seo Wook made a blitz visit to the Army’s Missile Command, which is operating in top secret for the purpose of striking North Korea’s key military facilities in case of emergency.
The defense minister’s public visit to a missile company is the first since North Korea’s fourth nuclear test in 2016 and reads as a warning message to North Korea.
[서욱/국방부 장관]
“In case of emergency, we need to enhance our executive ability to respond promptly. Through an overwhelming strategic victory, we must give confidence to the people…”
North Korea, which has launched missiles seven times this month alone, has clearly established a ‘strong big river’ stance toward the United States.
There are worrying observations that an intercontinental ballistic missile, also called the Red Line, will be launched on the pretext of ‘examination shooting’ around the Gwangmyeongseong Day on the 16th of next month, the 80th anniversary of Kim Jong-il’s birthday.
This is MBC News Sonryeong.
Video coverage: Yongsik Jung/Editor: Jinwoo Kim
MBC News awaits your report 24 hours a day.
▷ Tel 02-784-4000
▷ Email mbcjebo@mbc.co.kr
▷ KakaoTalk @mbc report
