N. Korea fires suspected ICBM that apparently failed

Nov 04, 2022, 08:32 am

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Citizens are watching TV news on North Korea’s firing of a long-range ballistic missile and two short-range ones on Nov. 3, 2022./ Source: Yonhap News

AsiaToday reporters Lee Seok-jong

North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), believed to be a Hwasong-17, a day after it shot a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) that flew southward past the de facto maritime inter-Korean border for the first time since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. Although the North’s ICBM launch is presumed to have failed Thursday, tension on the Korean Peninsula is rising further due to the North Korean provocations.

In response, President Yoon Suk-yeol called for Seoul and Washington to maintain their combined defense posture to protect the lives and safety of the South Korean people during a session of the National Security Council (NSC).

Gen. Kim Seung-kyum, chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), and Gen. Paul LaCamera, who leads the U.S. Forces Korea, had virtual consultations and reaffirmed a commitment to a stronger combined defense posture against any North Korean threats and provocations. The South Korean and US military authorities agreed to extend the Vigilant Storm exercise to an unknown date.

As the North is using the Vigilant Storm as an excuse to raise the level of its provocations, there are concerns that the North could continue its intensive provocations such as additional launches of ICBMs and other missiles, as well as the 7th nuclear test.

The JCS said it detected what is presumed to be a long-range ballistic missile launch from the Sunan area in Pyongyang at around 7:40 a.m. and the firing of two apparent short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from Kaechon in South Pyongan Province from around 8:39 a.m. The ICBM traveled about 760 km at an apogee of around 1,920 km at a top speed of Mach 15, and the two SRBMs flew some 330 km at a maximum altitude of around 70 km at a top speed of Mach 5, it said.

“The South Korean and US intelligence authorities are closely analyzing the detailed specifications,” the JCS said. “Our military has beefed up surveillance and vigilance, while maintaining the readiness posture in close cooperation with the U.S.”

Military authorities are said to have detected that the ICBM fired by North Korea succeeded in separating at the second stage. However, as the flight distance, altitude and speed were detected to be less than those of the existing ICBMs, it is reported that the analysis is focused on the possibility that the launch failed.

Some have raised the possibility that the ICBM fired by the North was the Hwasong-17. It is speculated that North Korea may have supplemented the problem of the Hwasong-17, which exploded at an early stage at an altitude of less than 20 km at the time of its launch on March 16, and additionally test-fired it.

#North Korea #ICBM