North Korea to Test Intercontinental Missile This Week

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North Korea could launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) this week, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency says on the authority of South Korean government officials. The financial news agency Bloomberg also reports on this.

According to Yonhap, South Korea and the United States have received signals that Pyongyang is planning a test of a new ICBM system at the earliest this week.

The US and South Korea had accused North Korea of testing such a new system last week during two launches (February 26 and March 4). North Korea said it was a test for satellite development. Analysts say the development of a reconnaissance satellite will provide North Korea with a cover to test banned intercontinental ballistic missiles. After all, those long-range missiles have the same technology.

“While we cannot say for sure when a missile will be launched, we are closely monitoring the possibility,” a government source told Yonhap.

North Korea has not conducted a test launch of an ICBM since November 2017. In 2017, it was a major breakthrough for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who wanted to demonstrate that he could threaten the entire American mainland, reports the Bloomberg news agency.

According to US officials, recent tests point to a launch of the Hwasong-17, which was unveiled at a parade in October 2020. ICBMs are missiles with a range of at least 5,600 kilometres. They can also be equipped with nuclear warheads.