Pyongyang [North Korea], March 17: North Korea says it launched the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), its largest, in a test that involved leader Kim Jong-un and his daughter grandfather.
According to North Korean state media , the missile launch that took place on the morning of March 16 was seen as a "strong response" to the ongoing military drills between the US and South Korea.
"The strategic weapons launch drills are an occasion to issue a stronger warning to the enemies who are trying to escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula by constantly resorting to military threats." irresponsibly and recklessly," state news agency KCNA said on March 17.
Pictures released by Pyongyang show North Korean leader Kim Jong-un watching the launch with his daughter. In addition, North Korean state media also published aerial photos that appeared to be taken by a camera mounted on the missile, Reuters reported.
North Korea launched an ICBM into the waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan just hours before South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol flew to Tokyo for a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, discussing how deal with Pyongyang.
Previously, the South Korean and US militaries on March 13 kicked off an 11-day joint exercise called "Freedom Shield", with a scale not seen since 2017, aimed at growing threats. increase from North Korea.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper
