A newly-constructed missile predicted by North Korean officials to reach across the ‘whole US mainland’ failed during testing this week.
The presumed powerful Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) broke apart in the air Wednesday as it re-entered into the Earth’s atmosphere, a US official told Fox News.
Eugene Lee, a South Korean spokesperson of the Ministry of Unification, who deals with North Korean affairs, said the Seoul government believes the ‘North hasn’t crossed the ‘red line’ in weapons development yet because it hasn’t perfected its ICBMs,’ according to the report.
North Korea’s Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (pictured above during launch) broke apart in the air during testing Wednesday
The ‘powerful’ missile was predicted to reach across the ‘whole US mainland,’ officials said
The missile flew 950 kilometers (600 miles) before it splashed down in waters near Japan
Back in July, North Korea also launched its Hwasong-14, which successfully flew 580 miles before it crashed into the Sea of Japan.
Officials confirmed the Hwasong-15 missile was ‘significantly more’ powerful than the Hwasong-14.
South Korea’s military said the latest missile flew 950 kilometers (600 miles) before splashing down in waters near Japan.
South Korean President Moon Jae-In speaks with US President Donald Trump at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on November 29, 2017 following the new North Korean missile test
This Nov. 29, 2017, image shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, third from left, and what the North Korean government calls the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile, in North Korea
The new Hwasong-15 missile (shown) was said to be ‘significantly more’ powerful than the Hwasong-14 which launched in July
It is potentially capable of striking targets as far as 13,000 kilometers (8,100 miles), which would put Washington within reach.
Despite the break, the launch of the new ICBM was celebrated Friday with a massive public rally and fireworks in capital Pyongyang.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also thanked workers during a visit to a factory that built the tires for a huge vehicle used to transport the ICBM.
Kim Jong-Un is shown visiting the Amnokgang Tire Factory in the Chagang province this week
Kim thanked workers at a factory that built the tires for a huge vehicle used to transport a new intercontinental ballistic missile that was test-launched this week
Kim complimented workers for manufacturing the large-size tires for the 9-axle missile truck without relying on imported equipment.
The leader called for efforts to raise production to ‘satisfy the daily-increasing needs in developing the country’s economy and beefing up national defense capabilities,’ the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said Saturday.
Kim in September tasked the Amnokgang Tire Factory to make the tires for the ‘great event in November,’ the agency reported.