North Korea provokes a new ICBM...Kim Jong Un "Never Change Nuclear Forces"

Joint Chiefs of Staff "North Korea launches ballistic missiles over the East Sea this morning"
" and flies 1,000 kilometers...ICBM Estimation
North Korea's first ICBM-class provocation this year...For the first time in 10 months since the end of last year,
-gun "presumed to be a new solid-propelled long-range ballistic missile."

[Anchor]
North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile and a new long-range ballistic missile, which appears to be an ICBM, over the East Sea today, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

North Korea's state media also quickly reported the launch today.

The provocation came shortly after the defense ministers of South Korea and the U.S. said they strongly condemned the dispatch of troops to Russia.

I'm connecting with the reporter. Reporter Lee Jong Won!

First, please tell us what our military has announced.

[Reporter]
Yes, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the East Sea at around 7:10 a.m. this morning.A long-range ballistic missile launched at a height of

flew 1,000 km and fell into the East Sea, which is believed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile ICBM class.

It is the first time this year that North Korea has launched an ICBM-class provocation, and 10 months after launching the Hwasong-18 in December last year.

Even at that time, it was a high-angle firing method that reduced the flight distance by increasing the launch angle, not the normal angle.

The military also analyzed today's missile as a solid-fuel long-range ballistic missile, especially a "new model."

It also explained that it is further analyzing the possibility of using a new 12-axis mobile launcher that was recently unveiled to send higher and further than the launch in December last year.

[Anchor]
North Korea's state media also quickly reported the missile launch?

[Reporter]
Yes, the KCNA quickly reported that it had test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile this morning, citing a defense ministry spokesman's announcement.

Chairman Kim Jong-un also disclosed his visit to the site and delivered his remarks.

Chairman of the states Affairs Commission Kim claimed that the ICBM launched today is an appropriate military activity to signal his willingness to respond to the enemy and that he will never change the route of strengthening nuclear force.

The agency claimed today's test-fire broke the latest record for strategic missile capabilities.

[Anchor]
It's the first ICBM provocation in 10 months, how should we look at North Korea's intentions?

[Reporter]
Yes, today's ballistic missile provocation was carried out amid increasing pressure from the international community due to the North Korean military's dispatch to Russia.

In particular, it came five hours after the defense ministers of South Korea and the U.S. held a South Korea-U.S. security consultation meeting in Washington, U.S., and announced that they strongly condemned North Korea's dispatch of troops to Russia.

The provocation seems to be a show of force and an attempt to distract attention, and most of all, analysts say it is aimed at the U.S. presidential election less than a week away.

The South Korean military explained that it is closely sharing the situation through a joint meeting between South Korea and the U.S. immediately after North Korea's provocation.

In particular, the defense ministers of South Korea and the U.S. emphasized that they decided to strongly implement various countermeasures such as joint training under the deployment of strategic assets on the U.S. side.

The National Security Office also held an emergency NSC standing committee chaired by Shin Won-sik, who ordered North Korea to be thoroughly prepared to prevent any surprise provocation.

I'm Lee Jongwon of YTN in the political department.