US: North Korea Recently Tested New ICBM System... Sanctions Announcement on the 11th (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Regarding the two ballistic missiles recently test-fired by North Korea, the U.S. government evaluated on the 10th (local time) that they are related to the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system and that North Korea has effectively begun performance testing ahead of an ICBM test. The U.S. announced it will impose new sanctions on North Korea on the 11th.

According to major foreign media, a senior U.S. official said during a press briefing that after a thorough analysis of the two ballistic missile launches conducted by North Korea on the 27th of last month and the 5th of this month (Korean time), this conclusion was reached. The official explained that this ICBM system was first showcased by North Korea during the Workers' Party anniversary military parade in October 2020 and was also displayed at a weapons expo last October.

However, unlike North Korea's ICBM tests in 2017, the two recent launches did not demonstrate the range or capability of an ICBM. The official analyzed that the launches appear intended to test various components of the system ahead of a full-range ICBM launch. Ultimately, this is considered a preliminary step toward an ICBM test launch.

The official stated that during the analysis process, close coordination was conducted with South Korea and Japan, and detailed information was shared with other allies and partner countries, including the United Nations (UN). The official emphasized, "The United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the U.S. mainland and its allies."

The U.S. has announced new sanctions against North Korea on the 11th. The Treasury Department is expected to impose new sanctions to block overseas access to items and technologies necessary for North Korea's prohibited weapons programs. The official warned, "Various additional measures will follow."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.