New tensions surround North Korea.

While the alleged presence of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine has drawn much criticism, Pyongyang has just conducted a missile test, leading to renewed tensions.

An "irreversible" position

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on November 1st that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea successfully test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile called Hwasong-19 the previous day.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un directed the test and stated that the country had achieved an "irreversible" position in the development of nuclear weapons delivery systems. Kim expressed satisfaction that the successful test ensured North Korea's "absolutely irreversible status in the development and production of similar nuclear delivery systems."

North Korea boasts new Hwasong-19 ballistic missile as ' the world's most powerful'.

According to KCNA, the important test helped Pyongyang achieve new milestones in "maintaining absolute superiority" of its armed forces. "The latest test of the new strategic weapons system updates recent records of North Korea's strategic missile capabilities and demonstrates the modernity and reliability of its world's most powerful strategic deterrent," KCNA stated.

North Korean missile launched on October 31.

North Korea described the new ICBM as an "extremely powerful attack vehicle" and the "ultimate" version of its long-range missile series. North Korea stated that the Hwasong-19 missile flew 1,001.2 km with an altitude of 7,687.4 km and a flight time of 5,156 seconds (nearly 86 minutes). This is also the longest flight time of a missile produced by North Korea. State media photos showed the missile being launched from an 11-axle transport vehicle. Kim's daughter, known as Ju-ae, also observed the missile launch.

Regarding this incident, the South Korean military announced on November 1st that they detected a missile fired at a high angle around 7:10 a.m. from the Pyongyang area of ​​North Korea, traveling approximately 1,000 kilometers before falling into the sea east of the Korean Peninsula. They assessed it to be a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) using solid fuel.

In response to the launch, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called for strict measures to counter North Korea's "provocation," and issued a ban on exporting materials for the production of solid-fuel missiles to Pyongyang.

US and South Korean fighter jets conduct joint exercises after North Korea launches missile.

Japan and the United States have condemned North Korea. On the same day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing was monitoring developments following North Korea's ICBM test, emphasizing that maintaining peace and stability is in the interest of all parties.

Have thousands of North Korean soldiers arrived in Russia?

Meanwhile, on October 31, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that North Korean soldiers present in the Kursk province (Russia) would be deployed to the front lines against Ukraine in the coming days. According to Reuters, citing Blinken, there are approximately 10,000 North Korean troops in Russia, with up to 8,000 in the Kursk region.

On the same day, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin accused Russia of currently training North Korean soldiers in artillery, drones, and basic infantry operations, indicating a clear intention to use these forces on the battlefield. Austin also stated that Washington would announce a new security assistance package for Kyiv in the coming days.

In an interview on KBS on October 31, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized what he called the almost "zero" response from partners to Russia's deployment of North Korean troops to the conflict in Ukraine.

In addition, on October 31, the Ukrainian government accused North Korea of ​​sending three generals and thousands of soldiers to Russia. In a statement to the UN Security Council, the Ukrainian delegation said the three generals were among 500 North Korean officials sent to Russia. Kyiv further stated that the North Korean soldiers were expected to be divided into five formations, each with 2,000-3,000 personnel.

The US and Ukraine say there are 8,000 North Korean soldiers in Kursk, including three generals.

Ukraine named three generals: General Kim Yong-bok (commander of North Korean special forces), General Ri Chang-ho (Deputy Chief of the General Staff), and Major General Sin Kum-cheol (head of North Korea's General Operations Bureau), according to Reuters.

Pyongyang has not yet responded to the statements of the Ukrainian delegation. But also at the Security Council meeting on October 31, Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, affirmed that military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang is in accordance with international law.

Russia expresses concern to Türkiye.

In other developments, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed concern over Türkiye's continued arms supply to Ukraine while declaring its intention to act as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Additionally, Lavrov plans to visit Malta in December to attend a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). This will be Lavrov's first visit to a European Union country since the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted in February 2022.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cang-thang-moi-xoay-quanh-trieu-tien-185241101222300323.htm