North Korea says new ballistic missile test was successful

Our top story this morning...
North Korea has announced that Sunday's missile launch was the first successful testing of
a new medium-to-long-range ballistic missile.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency says leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the test of the
missile, which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
Kwon Jang-ho has the details.
After a missile launch was detected early Sunday morning, there was confusion in Seoul
and Washington about whether it was the test-firing of a short-range Rodong missile, or a intermediate-range
Musudan missile.
But now North Korea's state-run media has announced that it was in fact a new intermediate-range
ballistic missile called the Pukguksong-2.
The North's Korean Central News Agency said the missile, capable of carrying a nuclear
warhead, was successfully launched using a new type of high-thrust engine built from
technology developed in the country.
It added that the missile was launched from a mobile launcher, and was able to perform
evasive maneuvers during flight.
The agency said it was a chance to prove the reliability and stability of its surface launch
capabilities.
The launch was also watched by leader Kim Jong-un himself, who expressed satisfaction
and declared the birth of a powerful new method of nuclear attack.
Kim is said to have ordered the development of this new missile after the successful testing
of a submarine launched ballistic missile in August last year.
The North Korean leader also said the People's Army can now carry out the most accurate and
speedy strategic actions, whether on land or from the sea.
Sunday's launch was the first in 2017 and the first since Donald Trump was sworn in
as president.
It's timing comes as Trump was meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the U.S. and
analysts are widely interpreting the move as sending a message to the two nations.
Kwon Jang-ho, Arirang News.

North Korea says new ballistic missile test was successful

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