North Korea announces first test of Hwaseong-18 ballistic missile

North Korea has confirmed the test of a new intercontinental ballistic missile “Hwaseong-18” on solid fuel. About it informs South Korean news agency Yonhap, citing the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

It is specified that the launch of the rocket took place under the leadership of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. According to him, the new missile “will radically increase the effectiveness of its nuclear counterattack and change the practicality of its offensive military strategy.”

Solid-propellant rockets are harder to detect before launch than liquid-fuel rockets, Yonhap writes. They also require less time to prepare for launch. It is specified that the development of such a missile is one of the five major defense projects that Kim Jong-un instructed to take up in January 2021.

The day before, April 13, the Japanese Coast Guard reportedthat North Korea launched a medium-range or long-range ballistic missile towards the Sea of ​​Japan. Reuters, citing a statement by the Joint Committee of the South Korean military, said that the missile flew 1,000 km and fell into the water. It was launched at 07:23 local time (01:23 Moscow time) from Pyongyang.

It was specified that this was the ninth missile launch from the territory of the DPRK since the beginning of the year. The last time a medium-range or long-range missile was launched on March 16, a short-range missile was launched on March 27.

After the launch, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called a meeting of the National Security Council. The US also condemned the missile tests. The White House called the incident a violation of a number of UN Security Council resolutions. Adrianne Watson, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said the tests are raising tensions in the region.