North Korea reveals ICBM launch drill…Kim Jong Un “Show our choice when Washington makes wrong decision”.

ORIGINAL LINK : https://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/29YKM3WQGP

North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on the 19th that North Korea conducted a launch exercise of the solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-18 on the 18th, under the observation of Chairman Kim Jong Un. Kim’s daughter (first on the left) also attended. Yonhap News

On the 19th, North Korea revealed through the KCNA that it conducted a launch exercise of the solid-fuel ICBM Hwasong-18 on the 18th. Chairman Kim Jong Un, while observing the exercise, emphasized, “When Washington makes a wrong decision against us, we are ready for any action and have clearly shown what choices we can make.” He threatened that he could attack the U.S. mainland with nuclear weapons in case of a similar situation.

The KCNA reported that the Hwasong-18 reached a maximum altitude of 6,518.2 km and flew 1,002.3 km for 4,415 seconds (73 minutes and 35 seconds), accurately arriving at the target area in the East Sea.

It continued, “The combat power of the ICBM unit has been excellently evaluated, and the credibility of the most powerful strategic core strike means of our military power and the quick response posture of the Republic’s strategic forces have been verified once again.”

This is the third time this year that North Korea has launched the solid-fuel ICBM Hwasong-18, which can be launched quickly and stealthily, following April and July. Especially, the launch of the Hwasong-18 in July was called a “test launch,” but this time it was expressed as a “launch exercise,” leading to speculation that practical deployment is near. Experts predict that North Korea could operationalize the Hwasong-18 as early as next year.

Chairman Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction with the launch exercise, saying, “The results of this exercise are a practical demonstration of the formidable attack power and absolute nuclear war deterrence of our state’s armed forces, and the reality and reliability of it.” He also emphasized, “If the enemies continue to make wrong choices, we must respond strongly with more evolved and more threatening methods in a more offensive manner.”

Kim Jong Un has proposed several major tasks to accelerate and develop nuclear strategic forces, according to the KCNA.

North Korea made it clear that this launch of the Hwasong-18 is a reaction to the agreement between South Korea and the U.S. to conduct a nuclear operation exercise in response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats at the Nuclear Consultation Group meeting on the 15th. The KCNA criticized the Nuclear Consultation Group meeting as a ‘nuclear war simulation board,’ saying, “They openly revealed their intention to conduct a large-scale joint exercise that actualizes ‘nuclear retaliation strike’ against the Republic.”