North Korea’s Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un, vowed to develop “overwhelming” military power after presiding over the country’s biggest missile launch to date. “We will continue to attain the goal of reinforcing national defence capabilities” and “develop a more powerful strike means,” Kim pledged.
On Friday, North Korea’s state-owned news agency, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), announced that all citizens were “delighted” at the news of the test-launch of the Hwasong-17, a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
NEW: First images of North Korea's Hwasongpho-17 ICBM. pic.twitter.com/QyC8E6hjMT
— Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) March 24, 2022
According to analysts, it was the first full ICBM test by Pyongyang since 2017. Flight data indicated that the missile flew higher and longer than any of the country’s previous tests before crashing into the sea west of Japan. In fact, the Hwasong-17 ICBM is the largest liquid-fuelled missile ever launched by any country from a road-mobile launcher.
KCNA explained that the test had been ordered by Kim because of the “daily-escalating military tension in and around the Korean peninsula” and the “inevitability of the long-standing confrontation with the US imperialists accompanied by the danger of a nuclear war.” “The emergence of the new strategic weapon of the DPRK would make the whole world clearly aware of the power of our strategic armed forces once again,” Kim said, referring to the short form of North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
In a congratulatory speech, Kim said the country must be prepared “to defend peace, accelerate socialist construction and be responsible for the security of the rising generations, free from any threat.” He also expressed his intention to build “powerful striking capabilities” with “absolutely firmer, more perfect, and stronger strategic force.”
North Korea’s Hwasong-17 is the biggest intercontinental ballistic missile that has ever developed and is potentially able to deliver a nuclear warhead to anywhere in the US https://t.co/hcRWNBv7HB pic.twitter.com/E2dtlZOPLm
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 25, 2022
The leader added that “only when one is equipped with the formidable striking capabilities” and “overwhelming military power” can they “prevent a war, guarantee the security of the country, and contain and put under control all threats and blackmails by the imperialists.”
The test was highly condemned by the international community. In fact, the foreign ministers of the Group of 7 (G7) said in a statement on Friday that the series of tests this year indicate that Pyongyang “has abandoned its self-declared moratorium on ICBM launches.” “We strongly condemn these acts which are in blatant violation of the DPRK’s obligations under numerous UN Security Council resolutions including resolution 2397 (2017). These reckless actions threaten regional and international peace and security, pose a dangerous and unpredictable risk to international civil aviation and maritime navigation in the region,” the statement says. The grouping called on the North Korea to abide by its internal commitments and return to dialogue.
In response to the most recent test, the United States called on the United Nations Security Council to impose tougher international sanctions against North Korea. Meanwhile, South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to engage in close coordination to facilitate North Korea’s complete denuclearisation.
North Korea confirms its test of a new ICBM - the "Hwasongpho-17."
— William Gallo (@GalloVOA) March 24, 2022
Via state media: pic.twitter.com/cr7jDNnxyI
This is Pyongyang’s 12th missile test this year. The multiple and arguably escalatory tests come after Kim pledged in his New Year’s speech to strengthen defence capabilities due to an increasingly uncertain military environment on the Korean peninsula. The new South Korean president, however, has previously warned of launching pre-emptive strikes if he senses an imminent attack by North Korea.