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| Image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with his daughter and several officials inspecting the launch of the Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile on April 13. (Source: Rodong Sinmun) |
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the missile launched on April 13 was a new intercontinental ballistic missile “Hwasong-18”.
Photos released by North Korea's Rodong Sinmun show leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju ae watching the missile launch. However, the report did not mention the presence of his daughter. North Korean President Ri So Ju's wife and his sister Jo Yong Won were also present at the missile test.
“The new ICBM test had no negative impact on the safety of neighboring countries and was launched safely at sea,” the statement stressed. According to North Korean officials, through the launch, all the most superior features of the new strategic weapon system were achieved exactly as designed. At the same time, Pyongyang affirmed that this ICBM is a powerful strategic strike means with higher military effectiveness.
Earlier, on the morning of April 13, the South Korean military confirmed that North Korea had launched an unidentified ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast. Japan also sent out an automatic text message warning to more than 5 million people in Hokkaido that a missile could fall around the area and urged residents there to seek shelter.
In a phone call immediately after the launch, the Special Envoys on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue from South Korea, the United States and Japan unanimously criticized the continued “flagrant violation” of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. They also expressed “deep concern” over the unprecedented level of provocations and threatening statements from Pyongyang since 2022, and agreed to continue to cooperate closely to have a unified response to these actions.
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