“It threatens the peace and security of our country, this region, and the international community, and it is absolutely unacceptable,” said senior vice defence minister Toshiro Ino.Sunday’s launch came days after North Korea tested a “high-thrust solid-fuel motor”, with state media describing it as an important test “for the development of another new-type strategic weapon system”.
Kim said this year that he wants North Korea to have the world’s most powerful nuclear force, and declared his country an “irreversible” nuclear state. The latest motor test was a step towards that goal, but it is not clear how far North Korea has come in the development of such a missile, analysts said.The isolated country’s policy direction for next year will be laid out at a key party meeting later this month, and the officialIn past years, Kim had delivered a speech every January 1, but has recently dropped the tradition in favour of making announcements at the year-end plenary meeting.
Experts say while Kim refrained from directly addressing the United States last year, he could change his tone this time around.