Several missile experts have since come to a similar conclusion, but they warn of the importance of last successful launch of ICBM in a week: North Korean first in more than four years should not to be discounted by pointing out out in test also demonstrated weapons with theoretical ability to hit all of continental United States.
ICBM launched by North Korea last Thursday flew to the top of 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles) and up distance of 1,080 kilometers (671 miles) with flight time of 71 minutes to spray down in water off west coast of japan last Thursday, according to the Japanese Ministry of Defense.
Shortly thereafter, Japan’s Deputy Defense Minister Makoto Oniki told reporters that the missile’s altitude suggests that it is “new type of ICBM.
Japanese officials stuck to that assessment this week. with This was stated by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno. on Monday when Tokyo counted the rocket new type based on flight altitude and others information.
And CNN previously reported that the Pentagon is still evaluating to what extent the missile is improved version of previous launches.
But South Korean official and the rocket men said further scrutiny of images in North Korean state media of last The week-long launch provided two possible clues regarding Pyongyang’s alleged ploy.
South Korean official said assessments by Seoul and Washington indicated that an ICBM had been launched last week there were only two engine injectors, like Hwaseong-15, while Hwaseong-17 has four.
And the video is out last Friday in the staterun Korea Central Television (KCTV) allegedly show Kim Jong Un directing the launch shows the North Korean leader’s shadow moving west, meaning it was caught on video. in morning but run took place in noon, official said.
Plus it was cloudy. in launch area last Thursday but weather in KCTV video seems sunny, official said.
Analysts say US still needs to be careful
Several rocket experts also began to doubt on North Korea’s announcement of the launch of the Hwasong-17.
“North Korea released a video after the March 24 events. test. We measured the shadows in however, this is clear from height and angle of sun that video out test on morning of March 16,” Lewis said.
“Video is of previous) test this failed. This strongly points to something else. test there was something else that they didn’t want us to see.”
Ankit Panda, nuclear policy expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Pyongyang may have changed Hwasong-15 — first tested almost five years ago – to make it look like but more powerful rocket.
Panda said that Pyongyang’s apparently inflated demands were aimed at a domestic audience, not an international one.
This was announced to journalists on Tuesday by the South Korean MP Ha Thae Keung. military briefing, rain of debris down over capital of North Korea, Pyongyang failed March 16 test.
It has office confirmed the words of the deputy CNN on On Thursday, he added that North Korea may have been forced to announce the launch of Hwasong-15 on March 24 as Hwasong-17 to soften negative opinions. in Pyongyang, whose residents witnessed the events of March 16. failure. North Korea did not confirm the reports of but failed March 16 test.
Lewis, a nuclear weapons expert, said regardless of what rocket was fired last Thursday, test showed powerful offensive ability that the US defense officials should be careful of.
“The rocket fired on March 24 would be range of about 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles), which is certainly within the capability of Hwasong-15, which can deliver nuclear weapons anywhere in United States,” Lewis said.
And Matsuno, a Japanese official, said on Monday that a North Korean missile program remains serious security risk of Japan, region And world.
Yunjung Seo of CNN and Junko Ogura contributed to this report.
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