Democratic People's Republic of Korea Successfully Tests Ballistic Missile

On April 13 Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) tested a new solid fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) which it says will greatly enhance its defence capabilities as solid fuel missiles are much more difficult to detect and easier to ready for firing. An ICBM is a ballistic missile with a range greater than 5,500 kilometres. Most modern designs allow a single missile to carry several warheads, each of which can strike a different target. Only Russia, the United States, China, France, India, the United Kingdom, Israel and the DPRK are known to have operational ICBMs.

"The development of the new-type ICBM Hwasong-18 will extensively reform [the DPRK's] strategic deterrence components [...], radically promote the effectiveness of its nuclear counterattack posture and bring about a change in the practicality of its offensive military strategy," the leader of the DPRK Kim Jong Un said.

Meanwhile, in addition to the DPRK, both Russia and China hold the U.S. and its allies responsible for the escalation of tensions in the region. Referring to a meeting of the UN Security Council held on April 17, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko and Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs Liu Xiaoming said in a joint statement: "The current situation around the Korean Peninsula was discussed in detail. The sides agreed that the responsibility for the current aggravation lies with Washington and its allies, which, contrary to their own commitments, refuse to engage in dialogue with north Korea on security guarantees and take practical confidence-building measures. On the contrary, they increase large-scale military exercises in the region, which are provocative in nature."

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This article was published in

Volume 53 Number 5 - May 2023

Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2023/Articles/M5300519.HTM

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