Nothing Change with New ICBM

Frustrated with an antagonistic decision of United States to relist on state sponsors of terrorism, North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile to the area within Japan’s exclusive economic zone in Japan Sea before Wednesday dawn. Pyongyang announced later that the missile was a new type of ICBM, including US Capital within its reach. Japan accused Kim Jong-un regime of its intimidation “with the most strong words,” which actually made no difference from previous reactions.

North Korea launched a missile from Pyongsong, a city located in the suburb of Pyongyang, to the eastward on Wednesday 3:18 a.m. According to Japanese government and South Korean military, it flew for 53 minutes and reached the point of 960 kilometers away, or 250 kilometers east from Aomori region of Japan. No damage on ships or aircrafts was reported.

A significance of the missile launch this time was that it reached 4,500 kilometers high from the surface. Minister of Defense, Itsunori Onodera, indicated that it was multistage missile and traced lofted orbit, which sought high altitude rather than distance. As distance of lofted missile is recognized as two or three times bigger than its achieved altitude, it is supposed that the missile is capable to reach ten thousand kilometers away, including mainland of US. No evidence of completing reentry capability was found.

Government-owned Korean Central Television reported that North Korea was successful in launching test of new ICBM, Hwasong 15. North Korea appealed that the missile can cover whole US mainland, reaching the final stage of missile development. “Today, we obtained the historical achievement of completing national nuclear power and missile strength,” declared Kim Jong-un.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe insisted to the reporters early in the Wednesday morning that Japan would enhance its pressure on North Korea to the maximum point, not giving in any kinds of provocation. In the telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, Abe told that Japan would not tolerate the missile launch, threatening security of both Japan and US and welcomed decision of Trump administration on state sponsors of terrorism.

Trump stressed that US could handle the situation. “Nothing changes, nothing changes,” he insisted to the reporters. While North Korea vows to have completed their missile development reaching US Capital, US President sees no change. Trump requested Chinese President Xi Jinping every effort to exercise its influence on North Korea in a telephone conversation. It was Trump’s approach to China that showed no change even after his long visit to Asia, including Beijing, earlier this month.