DPRK says conducted successful test of solid-fuel ICBM
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The last time the DPRK fired an ICBM was in April 2023.
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A TV screen shows a file image of the DPRK's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway station in Seoul, South Korea, on July 12, 2023 (AP)
State media of the DPRK reported on Thursday that it successfully conducted a missile test of the ICBM solid-fuel Hwasong-18 on Wednesday.
The launch of the missile comes days after the DPRK threatened to down US spy planes that trespass the DPRK's airspace.
The last time the DPRK fired an ICBM was in April. The missile flew 1,001 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 6,648 km before falling into the Sea of Japan, the Korean Central News Agency said.
Yesterday's launch was described as a "grand explosion" that shook "the whole planet", the agency added, noting that Kim vowed "a series of stronger military offensive" amid increasing US-South Korean provocations in the peninsula.
He further called for "more intense efforts" to be mobilized in order to increase the country's nuclear arsenal.
🇰🇵#NorthKorea recently launched a #Hwasong-18 intercontinental #ballisticmissile.
— Attentive Media (@AttentiveCEE) July 13, 2023
It was personally directed by #KimJongUn. He claimed that North #Korea will not stop developing more advanced #weapons systems due to the actions of "enemy forces."#breaking #breakingnews #Asia… pic.twitter.com/PH9I20uBzs
In response to Wednesday's launch, South Korean authorities described the launch as "a grave provocation that damages the peace and security of the Korean peninsula".
US National Security Council spokesperson Adam Hodge said in a statement: "This launch is a brazen violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions and needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region."
🇰🇵⚡️- La Corée du Nord a lancé un missile balistique intercontinental à combustible solide.
— M@nu l'info 🌎 (@Manu_Officiel4) July 13, 2023
Le lancement a été personnellement dirigé par #KimJongUn. Il a déclaré que la RPDC n'arrêtera pas de développer des systèmes d'armes plus avancés à cause des actions des "forces… pic.twitter.com/1o5hzMiA73
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This comes after the DPRK accused a US spy plane on Monday of violating its airspace and continued to decry US plans to deploy a nuclear missile submarine near the Korean peninsula.
A spokesperson for the DPRK Ministry of National Defense released a statement that the US had "intensified espionage activities beyond the wartime level," citing "provocative" spy plane flights over a period of eight consecutive days this month.
"There is no guarantee that such a shocking accident as the downing of the US Air Force strategic reconnaissance plane will not happen in the East Sea of Korea," the spokesperson added.
On her part, Kim Yo Jong confirmed that a US spy aircraft violated the DPRK's eastern airspace twice on Monday, adding that it would not respond directly to US reconnaissance activities outside of the country's exclusive economic zone. She warned that it would take "decisive action" if the demarcation of its maritime military line was crossed.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was also scheduled to attend the NATO summit in Lithuania this week, in an effort to seek stronger cooperation against the DPRK.
Read more: South Korea urges AP4 NATO allies in response to DPRK missile launch
