On March 26th, 2021, North Korea announced that it had successfully tested a new solid-fuel long-range missile. The announcement was made by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which stated that the missile was launched from a mobile launcher and hit a target 1,500 kilometers away.
This announcement has raised concerns among the international community, as North Korea’s development of long-range missiles is seen as a threat to global security. Solid-fuel missiles are particularly concerning, as they can be launched quickly and are more difficult to detect than liquid-fuel missiles.
The development of this new missile is also significant because it marks North Korea’s first public missile test since President Joe Biden took office in January. The Biden administration has made it clear that it intends to take a tougher stance on North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs than the previous administration did.
North Korea’s announcement of the successful test of this new missile comes just days after the United States and South Korea held joint military exercises. North Korea has long been critical of these exercises, viewing them as a provocation.
The KCNA statement on the missile test did not provide any details about the missile’s range or capabilities. However, experts believe that it could be a variant of the KN-23, a short-range ballistic missile that North Korea tested in 2019.
North Korea’s development of long-range missiles is a major concern for the international community, as it could potentially allow the country to strike targets as far away as the United States. The development of solid-fuel missiles is particularly concerning, as they can be launched quickly and are more difficult to detect than liquid-fuel missiles.
The United States and its allies have imposed sanctions on North Korea in an effort to pressure the country to abandon its nuclear and missile programs. However, these sanctions have not been successful in stopping North Korea’s development of these weapons.
The Biden administration has said that it is willing to engage in diplomacy with North Korea, but only if the country is willing to take steps towards denuclearization. North Korea has shown little interest in such talks, and its recent missile test is likely to further complicate efforts to restart negotiations.
In conclusion, North Korea’s announcement of the successful test of a new solid-fuel long-range missile is a cause for concern for the international community. The development of long-range missiles could potentially allow North Korea to strike targets as far away as the United States, and the use of solid-fuel technology makes these missiles more difficult to detect. The Biden administration has said that it is willing to engage in diplomacy with North Korea, but the recent missile test is likely to complicate efforts to restart negotiations.
