North Korea challenges the West again: launched new long-range cruise missile

North Korea tested its new model of “long-range cruise missile” this weekend, in a new challenge launched to the West and in particular to the United States.

The announcement was made by the official news agency KCNA.

According to the report, the test was “passed”. Rehearsals took place on Saturday and Sunday and were overseen by senior officials, the official report reported.

“The development of the long-range cruise missile, a strategic weapon of great importance, has been driven by the process of developing scientific and reliable weapon systems over the past two years,” added the KCNA.

And he continued, “The missiles traveled 1,500 kilometers before reaching their targets and falling into the country’s territorial waters.”

The new long-range missile test came days after the military parade organized by the Kim Jong-un regime to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the founding of North Korea. On this occasion, mechanized paramilitary units, rocket launchers and anti-tank weapons participated.

The UN complaint

The launch of new North Korean long-range missiles was known weeks after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a UN-dependent body, denounced that Pyongyang had returned its nuclear reactor to service and its atomic fuel reprocessing facilities.

For the UN body, these activities are “deeply disturbing”.

The IAEA report revealed: “Since early July, there have been indications, including releases of cooling water, consistent with the operation of the 5 megawatt experimental electric reactor at the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center in 100 kilometers north of the capital “.

North Korea is allegedly obtaining fuel for its nuclear devices at its Yongbyon facility. The IAEA does not have access to these facilities.

But the report provided more data. The steam plant at the Yongbyon Radiochemical Laboratory was active between February and July. There, according to the report, the fuel used in the reactor is reprocessed to obtain plutonium for the manufacture of atomic bombs.

What the United States Said

Following the IAEA report, the American general Glen Van Herck, The head of the US Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command has warned that Washington is able to respond to any threat from Pyongyang.

And he said, “I have confidence in our abilities. We remain ready to react if North Korea decides to launch a missile”.

The two countries had started nuclear talks during the presidency of Donald trump, which included an unprecedented summit between then-US President and Kim Jong-un on June 12, 2018 at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island, Singapore.

However, negotiations are at a standstill for two years amid new warnings issued by the North Korean regime to expand its atomic plans if it continued what it called “hostile policies” by the White House towards its country.