[Breaking] North Korea's Kim Jong-un Orders Test Launch of New ICBM Hwasong-17 Model

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun]North Korea conducted a test launch of the new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 'Hwasong-17' under the leadership of Chairman Kim Jong-un the previous day.

On the 25th, the Korean Central News Agency reported, “Chairman Kim issued a handwritten order to carry out the test launch of the new ICBM and personally visited the test launch site to directly oversee the entire process of the Hwasong-17 ICBM test launch.”

According to the report, Chairman Kim said, "The emergence of a new strategic weapon of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will once again clearly demonstrate the power of our strategic forces to the world," adding, "This will serve as an opportunity to further solidify the modernity of our strategic forces and the foundation of assurance and trust in the nation's security."

He continued, "The successful development of the new intercontinental ballistic missile, a culmination of advanced defense science and technology, is a grand demonstration of the might of our self-reliant defense industry, which has grown and been pioneered through Juche strength."

He emphasized, "Our Party and government's strategic choice and determination to qualitatively and continuously strengthen a powerful nuclear war deterrent to safeguard the country's security and prepare for all future crises is unwavering," and "Equipping ourselves with overwhelmingly superior military offensive capabilities is the most reliable war deterrent and national defense power."

Chairman Kim also stated, "Anyone who attempts to infringe upon our nation's security must be made to clearly understand that they will pay a terrible price," and "Our national defense power possesses formidable military technology that is impervious to any military threats or intimidation, and we will thoroughly prepare for a long-term confrontation with American imperialism."

North Korea announced, "The intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-17, launched from Pyongyang International Airport, ascended to a maximum apogee of 6,248.5 km, flew a distance of 1,090 km for 4,052 seconds, and accurately landed in the designated area in the open waters of the East Sea of Korea."

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