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| North Korea's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Capability Making South Korean Officials Alert |
Seoul - North Korea's short-range ballistic missile capability has been acknowledged by a South Korean official. According to him, North Korea's short-range missile capabilities are far more threatening than its hypersonic and cruise missile developments.
South Korea's deputy defense minister, Shin Beomchul, said it had not yet assessed that North Korea had acquired the reentry technology for its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which is needed to return a nuclear warhead to the atmosphere from space so that it can hit a desired target on the US mainland. .
North Korea has previously claimed that it has ICBM missiles capable of hitting US territory. “The nuclear powers and the so-called nuclear powers in the world have repeatedly stressed that they will not use their nuclear weapons. But North Korea hinted at the use of its nuclear weapons," Shin said. "It well expresses North Korea's intention to develop nuclear weapons for the strategic purpose of suppressing South Korea and the international community," he added.
In this regard, Shin said South Korea was pushing to increase its own missile defense, pre-emptive strike and massive retaliatory capabilities in response to North Korea's nuclear threat. He said South Korea and the United States in mid-September would revive talks on extended deterrence, a term that refers to the US commitment to defending its ally with various military capabilities including nuclear.
North Korea has so far carried out a record-breaking 20 weapons tests this year and continues to launch missiles. The country last fired two cruise missiles from the west coast city of Onchon on Wednesday (17/8/2022) morning. The launch came a day after Seoul and Washington began the initial four days of joint exercises in preparation for the long-suspended Ulchi Freedom Shield live field training, which ran from Aug. 22 to Sept. 1.
While North Korea has not conducted a missile test for two months, the reclusive nation had been battling the Covid-19 outbreak for months before declaring victory over the virus in early August.