North Korea fires most powerful missile since 2017

North Korea fired its longest-range ballistic missile since 2017 this Sunday, as it escalates its weapons program, a possible sign of larger tests to come, according to South Korea’s President.

Both the South Korean and Japanese governments reported the launch of an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM).

Officials in both Tokyo and Seoul said the missile reached a height of 2,000 kilometers with a range of 800 kilometers, before falling into waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula.

The last missile of this type to be tested by Pyongyang was the Hwasong-12, which traveled 787 km and reached a maximum altitude of 2,111 km in 2017.

At the time, analysts calculated that this projectile had the capacity to travel 4,500 km and reach the US island of Guam.

The North Korean regime threatened to resume nuclear or missile tests, saying it was forced to do so by the US’s “hostile” policy.

Since President Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 2021, Pyongyang has rejected various proposals for dialogue made by Washington.

The North Korean missle tests come at a sensitive time for the region, as China, the North Korean regime’s only major ally, is hosting the Winter Olympics in February and South Korea is holding a presidential election in March.

The increase in weapons testing also comes at a time when North Korea’s economy has been brought to its knees by international sanctions and nearly two years of border closures amid the COVID-19.

On Friday, the North Korean agency KCNA shared images of Kim visiting a weapons factory, surrounded by officials in uniform.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed in December that his priority was to “modernize the country’s arsenal.”