North Korea has tested a new guided missile in response to threats from US President Joe Biden
Two “tactical guided missiles of a new type” accurately hit a target off the east coast on Thursday, March 25, according to the Korean Central News Agency. The missiles hit the target at a distance of 600 kilometres.
Ri Pyong-chol, a senior DPRK official, said the development of the new weapon “is of great importance to strengthen the country’s military power and deter all kinds of military threats existing on the Korean Peninsula.”
Japan said the two projectiles launched from DPRK territory were ballistic missiles, which are banned by UN Security Council resolutions.
The tests were the first since Joe Biden became US president. The Democrat had pledged, even at the height of the presidential race, to build up a military presence to put pressure on North Korea.
After Biden’s inauguration, his spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that the new US administration planned to prepare a new strategy towards North Korea and pursue a policy of containment of Pyongyang.