North Korea’s new ballistic missile is capable of hitting targets at very long ranges.
The Washington Post reports this.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have expressed concern that the Kremlin could provide support to North Korea in exchange for military aid. First of all, we refer to the DPRK military personnel already in the Russian Kursk region, controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The Biden administration believes Russia is training the North Korean military to operate artillery and drones, as well as basic infantry operations such as clearing trenches. This may indicate North Korea’s readiness for active hostilities, Blinken noted.
According to American and South Korean officials, about 10,000 North Korean troops are on Russian territory. The missile, believed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launched by North Korea, is expected to fly significantly further than previously tested missiles and could reach anywhere in the United States.
Blinken also warned of the likely transfer of technology from Russia to North Korea in exchange for its military support, highlighting one of the biggest foreign policy challenges for the incoming US president: growing cooperation between Russia, China, North Korea and Iran. Japan’s Defense Minister said the new long-range weapon reached an altitude of 4,350 miles, significantly higher than previous launches, including the solid-fuel Hwasong-18 tested in December.
Blinken and Austin noted that they were concerned not only about Russia’s support for North Korea, but also about the possible consequences for strengthening Pyongyang’s missile program. Austin also stressed that the Kremlin’s request for help indicates its growing weakness in the conflict with Ukraine.
The launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile took place on the eve of the US presidential elections. The rocket stayed in the air longer than any previous launch led by Kim Jong Un, flying for more than 85 minutes, longer than the previous record of 74 minutes. According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the missile was launched on October 30 at 7:11 am, flew about 621 miles, reached an altitude of more than 4,300 miles and finally fell into the waters west of Okushiri Island.
Recall that Kursor wrote that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had already eliminated 40 “elite” North Korean soldiers sent by the Russian command in the Kursk region to restore control over the occupied territories. The information appeared a few days after a large number of soldiers from Pyongyang ended up on Russian soil.
