Monday’s missile was fired from an area near the capital Pyongyang towards the sea off the North’s east coast and flew about 1,000 km, Reuters reported citing South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Japan’s defense ministry reported the flight lasted 73 minutes, just short of the 74-minute flight by an ICBM North Korea fired in July.
It reached a maximum altitude of more than 6,000 km and fell into the sea west of Hokkaido outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, Japan said.
The North’s latest, solid-fuel Hwasong-18 ICBMs have been launched from near Pyongyang, at a grass field that analysts said is likely reinforced with concrete for the heavy launch vehicle.
Monday’s missile launch came after North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile on Sunday night, flying about 570 km and falling into the ocean.
North Korea followed up that launch with a fiery statement condemning the United States for orchestrating what it called a “preview of a nuclear war,” including the arrival of a nuclear-powered submarine in South Korea on Sunday.
Coinciding with the North’s fifth ICBM launch of the year, China and North Korea held a high-level meeting in Beijing on Monday.
Beijing, which is Pyongyang’s closest ally, reaffirmed a commitment to deepen cooperation and said discussions covered issues of “common concern”, without elaborating.
North Korea says it has a sovereign right to operate a ballistic missile program for self-defense and rejects a Security Council ban, which it says is a product of hostile US policy.
After Sunday’s launch, North Korea’s defense ministry criticized “military gangsters” in the United States and South Korea for raising tensions with drills, displays of force, and nuclear war planning.
AMK/PR
