North Korea Claims to Have Tested a 'New Ballistic Missile'

Pyongyang claims that the missile tested on May 13 was 'a new medium-to-long-range ballistic missile'. North Korea asserts that U.S. territory is within the 'range' of its missiles. The official North Korean news agency published a statement on May 14, referring to the missile test conducted early Sunday. The statement indicated that the recent launch aimed to assess the capability of using 'heavy nuclear warheads on a large scale'. No independent agency or organization has confirmed North Korea's potential capability to equip missiles with nuclear warheads or its success in developing intercontinental missiles. Nevertheless, officials in Seoul and Washington have emphasized that Pyongyang has made advancements in its missile technology in recent months. North Korea's ballistic missile tests and nuclear military exercises are conducted in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has threatened the United States and South Korea with preemptive nuclear strikes on several occasions. The early Sunday test drew a response from the United States, with the White House calling for 'stricter sanctions' against Pyongyang. This test occurred a week after the inauguration of South Korea's new president, Moon Jae-in, from the country's liberal party, which is considered left-leaning in South Korean political polarization. Mr. Moon, seen as a pro-dialogue figure, stated during a National Security Council meeting that 'even if dialogue with North Korea is possible, we must show that this dialogue is only feasible if Pyongyang changes its approach'. The North Korean leadership, in its statement on Monday, claimed that the new missile traveled 787 kilometers, reached an altitude of 2112 kilometers, and landed in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) between the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and the Russian Far East. South Korean and Japanese officials confirmed the missile's range to be approximately the same. South Korea's state news agency reported that the altitude announced by Pyongyang likely indicates that the tested missile was of a new type. U.S. officials stated that estimates do not suggest that the launched missile was of intercontinental range. The United Nations Security Council is set to hold a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the recent test, at the request of the U.S., South Korea, and Japan.