TIL Desk/World/Seoul/ North Korea today confirmed the “successful” launch of a medium-range ballistic missile, Pyongyang’s state media said, adding the weapon was now ready to be deployed for military action. Leader Kim Jong-Un oversaw the launch, adding that he “approved the deployment of this weapon system.”
Reports said the missile tested was the Pukguksong-2, a land-based version of Pyongyang’s submarine-launched weapon, which uses solid-fuel which allows for immediate firing.
“Now that its tactical and technical data met the requirements of the Party, this type of missile should be rapidly mass-produced in a serial way to arm the KPA Strategic Force,” Kim said, referring to the North’s army.
The missile, which was described by Washington as medium-range, was fired from Pukchang in South Pyongyang province and traveled about 500 kilometres (310 miles) before landing in the Sea of Japan, according to the South’s armed forces.
The US, South Korea and Japan sharply denounced the launch and jointly requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the matter.
