U.S. Mainland Faces Nuclear Attack Threat in Crisis
Anticipated Tough Stance in Inter-Korean and North Korea-U.S. Relations Next Year
Third ICBM Launch, Following April and July Launches
Strong Criticism of ROK-U.S. National Command Group, Warning of Countermeasures
North Korea has conducted a launch test of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-18, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 19th. Kim Jong Un observed the exercise and stated, “It clearly showed what choice we would make if Washington made a wrong decision against us.”
The threat implies that North Korea can attack the U.S. mainland with nuclear weapons in an emergency. Also, it is interpreted as a forecast of a hard-line stance against South Korea and the U.S. next year.
The Korean Central News Agency reported that the Hwasong-18 reached a maximum altitude of 6518.2 km (approximately 4049 miles) and flew 1002.3 km (about 623 miles) for 4415 seconds (73 minutes and 58 seconds), accurately landing in the target area in the East Sea. The statement also emphasized the high evaluation of the intercontinental ballistic missile unit’s combat power. It underscored the Republic’s strategic forces’ quick response capabilities and reaffirmed the reliability of our military’s most formidable strategic nuclear core strike methods.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, the missile launch was a direct response to the recent agreement between South Korea and the U.S. to hold a “nuclear operation exercise,” as discussed in the Nuclear Consultation Group (NCG) meeting on the 15th. The NCG meeting was labeled as a “nuclear war simulation board” by the agency. They highlighted that the meeting’s explicit purpose was to plan a large-scale joint exercise aimed at executing a ‘nuclear retaliation strike’ against the Republic. The escalating situation has prompted the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea to decisively and proactively implement warning and response measures.
This is the third time this year that North Korea has launched the Hwasong-18, a solid-fuel ICBM capable of quick and surprise launches, following April and July.
Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction with the launch exercise, saying, “The results of this exercise are a practical demonstration of the formidable offensive power and the reality and reliability of our country’s absolute nuclear deterrence force.” He stressed that the aggressive, confrontational tendencies of the U.S. and its allies will not likely diminish on their own. Furthermore, he asserted the importance of not tolerating any form of military threats from these reckless and irresponsible enemies, which could undermine peace and security in the Korean Peninsula region.
He further stressed, “When the enemies continue to make the wrong choices, we must choose a more evolved and threatening method and respond more aggressively.” According to the agency, Kim Jong Un proposed several significant tasks to accelerate the strengthening and development of nuclear strategic forces.
By. Koo Chae Eun
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