North Korea Puts US in Nuclear Crosshairs While Biden Has to Focus on Ukraine

North Korea broke its self-imposed moratorium on long-range missile tests in spectacular fashion Thursday, successfully testing a monster intercontinental ballistic missile, believed to be the world’s largest mobile system capable of delivering multiple nuclear warheads. It was the first test of a long-range ICBM since 2017, when North Korea paused tests while pursuing a deal with former President Donald Trump.

According to North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency, the new “super-large” Hwasong-17, first displayed at a military parade in 2017, was launched on what was basically a straight up and down trajectory, reaching a height of 6,248 kilometers (3,880 miles) before landing 1,090 kilometers (680 miles) in waters between North Korea and Japan.

Experts say, fired at a standard trajectory, the missile would be capable of traveling 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles), which puts the entire U.S. mainland, including the capital Washington, D.C., in range.

“The new strategic weapon of the DPRK will clearly show the might of our strategic force to the whole world once again,” said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who personally gave the launch order, according to KCNA. “The success in the development of the new-type intercontinental ballistic missile,” Kim said, “is a great demonstration of the might of our self-reliant defense industry which has increased and developed with our driving force.” . . .

The surprise test prompted an immediate denunciation from Washington and a flurry of urgent phone calls from U.S. officials to their South Korea and Japanese counterparts. (Read more from “North Korea Puts US in Nuclear Crosshairs While Biden Has to Focus on Ukraine” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

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