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North Korea’s state-run KCNA reported on Thursday that leader Kim Jong-un had overseen the launch of a solid-fuel Hwasong-18 ICBM on Tuesday. (KCNA/Yonhap)

After criticizing the US’ reconnaissance activities, North Korea cranked up the tenor of its threats by launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the waters off the eastern coast of Korea on Wednesday morning, its first such launch in three months.

This appears to be a show of force against the US following back-to-back warnings made by Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, on Monday and Tuesday, about reconnaissance flights by American spy planes over the East Sea. “In case of repeated illegal intrusion, the US forces will experience a very critical flight,” Kim said, suggesting that the North might try to shoot down an American aircraft.

Amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol responded by mentioning “strong countermeasures” and stressing international cooperation.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff explained on Wednesday that a North Korean ballistic missile was launched at a high angle and flew for about 1,000 km before splashing down in the East Sea. The Joint Chiefs didn’t disclose the North Korean ballistic missile’s flight time or maximum altitude because doing so would apparently “reveal our intelligence and detection capabilities.”

However, the Japanese government said that the ballistic missile achieved a maximum altitude of 6,000 km and fell into the waters about 500 km to the east of the Korean Peninsula at 11:13 am.

Considering that a ballistic missile’s standard range is estimated as being two or three times its maximum altitude in a high-angle launch, this ballistic missile could presumably have flown for about 15,000 km if launched at a normal angle (30-45 degrees). That would put the American homeland within its reach.

This is the fourth time that North Korea has launched an ICBM this year, following the launch of a Hwasong-15 on Feb. 18, a Hwasong-17 on March 16 and a Hwasong-18 (a newly developed solid-fuel missile) on April 13.

However, analysts disagree about which model of ballistic missile was launched on Wednesday. Considering that the Hwasong-17 launched last Nov. 18 had a maximum altitude of 6,049 km and the Hwasong-18 launched on April 13 had a maximum altitude of 3,000 km, the maximum altitude of Wednesday’s launch suggests this might be the Hwasong-17, which uses liquid fuel.

On the other hand, the flight trajectory and the rocket stage separation apparently resemble those of the April 13 launch of the Hwasong-18. The first stage of the Hwasong-18 flew at a normal angle, but the second and third stages separated at a higher angle than normal.

If the North Korean missile that reached a maximum altitude of 6,000 km on Wednesday was not the liquid-fuel Hwasong-17, but the solid-fuel Hwasong-18, which can be launched at short notice, experts note that North Korea may be able to neutralize South Korea’s “kill chain” missile defense system, which aims to destroy North Korean missiles on the ground as soon as an imminent launch is detected.

North Korea’s ICBM launch was apparently intended to shore up unity at home leading up to the anniversary of the armistice that halted the Korean War on July 27. North Korea celebrates as the Day of Victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War.

Yoon, who is attending the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, reiterated the need for international cooperation on Wednesday in an emergency meeting of South Korea’s National Security Council, which he chaired remotely.

“North Korea’s illegal development of nuclear weapons and missiles will face even tougher sanctions and other measures from the international community,” Yoon said, while instructing his advisors to “execute our independent military and diplomatic measures and joint measures with the US without any disruptions.”

Yoon also reminded listeners that “North Korea’s provocation took place during the NATO summit that was held to discuss global security cooperation.”

“North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missiles are a real threat that could hit not only Vilnius, but also Paris, Berlin and London. We need to stand together in greater solidarity and condemn [North Korea’s actions] with one voice,” Yoon said during a speech delivered to the leaders of NATO member states and partners at the summit.

By Kwon Hyuk-chul, staff reporter

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