North Korea tested its latest Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile

North Korea tested its latest
Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on
Wednesday, its state media reported, saying the weapon is the
core of its nuclear strike force and a warning to the United
States and other adversaries.
The launch, reported at the time by militaries in South
Korea and Japan, was condemned by the U.S. and leaders in Seoul
and Tokyo, among others.
The Hwasong-18 was first flown in April. It is the North’s
first ICBM to use solid propellants, which can allow faster
deployment of missiles during a war.
“The test-fire is an essential process aimed at further
developing the strategic nuclear force of the Republic and, at
the same time, serves as a strong practical warning” to
adversaries, state news agency KCNA said.
Accusing Washington of increasing tensions by deploying
submarines and bombers to the Korean peninsula and conducting
nuclear war planning with South Korean allies, KCNA said the
military security situation “has reached the phase of nuclear
crisis beyond the Cold War era.”
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test, and
said the country would take increasingly strong measures to
protect itself until the U.S. and its allies drop their hostile
policies, the report said.
The Hwasong-18’s 74-minute flight time was the longest ever
for a North Korean missile test, KCNA said, adding the second
and third stages were flown on a lofted trajectory to a high
altitude for safety.
“The test-fire had no negative effect on the security of
the neighboring countries,” it said.
North Korea said the missile flew 1,001 km (622 miles)
to an altitude of 6,648 km.
Japan said the missile landed in the sea east of the Korean
peninsula and about 250 km west of northern Japan’s Okushiri
island.