PYONGYANG, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. North Korea has claimed it has successfully test-fired a submarine-based ballistic missile “developed on the personal initiative” of leader Kim Jong-Un.
Kim, who personally oversaw the test, hailed the missile as a “world-level strategic weapon capable of striking and wiping out in any waters the hostile forces infringing upon (North Korea’s) sovereignty and dignity”, said the country’s KCNA news agency.
There was no immediate independent confirmation of the test, which would mark a major breakthrough for the country’s missile programme and violate UN resolutions prohibiting Pyongyang from developing or using ballistic missile technology.
Development of a submarine-launched missile capability would take the North Korean nuclear threat to a new level, allowing deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula.
But the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University believes Pyongyang is likely to be “years” away from achieving the required technology that would offer the nuclear-armed state a survivable second-strike nuclear capability.
According to the KCNA report, the test was carried out by a submarine that dived to launch depth on the sounding of a combat alarm.
“A ballistic missile surfaced from the sea and soared into the air, leaving a fiery trail of blaze,” it said.
It gave no detail of the size or range of the missile, nor did it specify when the test was carried out.
In a statement the US declined to comment on the validity of the report, but said launches using ballistic missile technology were a “clear violation” of UN Security Council resolutions.
“We call on North Korea to refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the region and focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its international commitments and obligations,” a State Department official said.
Kim described the test as an “eye-opening success” on a par with North Korea’s successful launch of a satellite into orbit in 2012.
The satellite launch was condemned by the international community as a disguised ballistic missile test and resulted in a tightening of UN sanctions.
Credit: Sky News
