North Korea test fires new solid-fuel long-range missile, warns of ‘extreme horror’ to rivals

North Korea said on Friday it test-launched ‘Hwasong-18’, a new solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in a bid to “radically promote” the country’s nuclear counterattack capability.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said the launch was supervised by the country’s leader Kim Jong Un, who pledged to further expand his nuclear arsenal to “strike extreme uneasiness and horror” in his rivals.

The confirmation by the state media came a day after the country’s neighbors detected a launch near Pyongyang. Japan had briefly issued an order asking people living on Hokkaido to take shelter as a precautionary measure.

The test launch came amid North Korea’s heavy criticism towards the recent US-South Korea joint military exercises. Tension between North Korea and the US has been escalating and the successful test launch of the solid-fueled ICBM could spell trouble for Washington.

The new type of ICBM is the first time that North Korea has used solid propellants, analysts told Reuters. An intercontinental ballistic missile with built-in solid propellants would be easier to move and hide and could be fired faster. This will reduce the opportunities for its opponents to detect and counter the launch.

Most of the country’s largest ballistic missiles use liquid fuel, which requires them to be loaded with propellant at their launch site — a time-consuming process.

The country has tested various intercontinental missiles since 2017 that demonstrated the potential range to reach the US mainland, but the others use liquid fuel that must be added relatively close to the launch and they cannot remain fueled for prolonged periods.

Kim Jong Un said the successful launch of the new missile will make North Korea’s rivals “experience a clearer security crisis, and constantly strike extreme uneasiness and horror into them by taking fatal and offensive counter-actions until they abandon their senseless thinking and reckless acts”.

Just a few days ago, the North Korean leader had vowed to enhance the country’s nuclear arsenal in more “practical and offensive” ways.

The country has fired around 30 missiles this year alone as the tension over the US-South Korea joint military exercises escalated.