According to North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim, who watched the launch test of the Hwasong-18 type solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile “designed to hit the United States,” made statements after the launch.
In his statement, Kim pledged to strengthen his country’s nuclear weapons and missile capabilities, stating that the test was “part of his country’s self-defense efforts against the irresponsible military actions of the United States and South Korea.”
Claiming that the security on the Korean Peninsula is “seriously threatened by hostile forces”, Kim “against the imperialist USA and its puppet South Korea” until he abandons the “hostile policies” towards the North. reiterated that a series of stronger military moves will be launched.
North Korea’s ballistic missile test
In the statement of the South Korean General Staff, it was announced that North Korea launched a “long-range ballistic missile” in the direction of the Sea of Japan at around 10:00 local time yesterday from the capital Pyongyang.
President Yoon Suk-yeol stated at the emergency meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) that North Korea, which tests ballistic missiles, will “pay the price”.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that the missile fell 250 kilometers off the northern island of Hokkaido and outside the Japanese exclusive economic zone.