An intercontinental ballistic missile that was fired by North Korea on Friday (November 18) and landed near Japanese waters showed a potential ability to reach and strike the entire US, Japan has said.
According to South Korean and Japanese estimates, the missile flew about 3,600-3,790 miles at a maximum altitude of 1,000 – 620 miles. Japanese defence minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters the altitude suggests the missile was launched on a high angle.
He said depending on the weight of a warhead to be placed on the missile, the weapon has a range exceeding 9,320 miles, “in which case it could cover the entire mainland United States”. Hamada called the launch “a reckless act that threatens Japan as well as the region and the international community”.
He said Japan would continue to cooperate closely with the US, South Korea and other countries to coordinate a joint response to North Korean provocations. South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff called the launch “a grave provocation and serious threat” to undermine international and regional peace and security.
It said South Korea maintains readiness to make “an overwhelming response to any North Korean provocation” amid close coordination with the US. The South’s joint chiefs of staff said it detected the ICBM launch from North Korea’s capital region around 10.15am local time and the weapon flew toward the North’s eastern coast across the country.
Japan said the ICBM appeared to have flown on a high trajectory and landed west of Hokkaido. The North’s ongoing torrid run of weapons tests aim to advance its nuclear arsenal and win greater concessions in eventual diplomacy and they come as China and Russia have opposed US moves to toughen sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s nuclear programme.
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