North Korea Claims New Missile Test with Nuclear Capabilities was 'Successful'

North Korea's official news agency reports that the ballistic missile tested on Sunday, February 12, was a 'medium to long-range missile' and that the test was 'successful.' An American official stated that North Korea's 'provocative action' was 'not unexpected.' The Korean Central News Agency reported on February 13 that the Pukguksong-2 missile was launched from a 'mobile launcher' using 'solid fuel' and a 'new domestically produced engine.' According to the official news agency of Pyongyang, Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, was present during the ballistic missile test and stated that this missile is another tool in their capability to launch a nuclear bomb. The North Korean news agency claimed that the country's 'missile industry' has now become 'an extremely advanced industry' and is no longer 'just a copied industry.' North Korea has repeatedly threatened its neighboring countries, South Korea and Japan, as well as the United States, with military action and has stated that it will carry out a preemptive nuclear strike if necessary. Despite these threats, military confrontations have rarely occurred in recent years, specifically with the South Korean military. However, doubts remain about Pyongyang's ability to mount a nuclear warhead on ballistic missiles. Two previous tests by Pyongyang of intercontinental missiles were also unsuccessful. Despite this, officials in Seoul and Washington have emphasized that the country is expanding its capabilities. Pyongyang is facing United Nations sanctions as well as unilateral sanctions from countries like the United States due to the expansion of its nuclear military program and the development of ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Nonetheless, the latest test by North Korea on February 12 was not entirely unexpected. Security and political officials from countries like South Korea and the United States had reported activities related to a possible missile launch in recent weeks, and the North Korean leader had indicated that they would soon conduct a new test. Reuters also quoted a U.S. government official stating that this 'provocative action' was not unexpected by Washington. The missile launch occurred one day after a meeting between Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan, and Donald Trump, the President of the United States. Trump hosted Abe, and shortly after the missile test, both appeared at a press conference. The U.S. President emphasized that his country would defend its allies in East Asia: 'I want everyone to understand and know that the United States stands 100 percent behind our great ally, Japan.' The Pukguksong-1 missile was successfully tested last summer using a submarine, as confirmed by Seoul and Washington. U.S. officials and their Asian allies have not yet made any official comments regarding the 'success' of the new generation of this missile.