However, he added the missile’s performance could “not be ignored worldwide”, saying it was able to “deal a serious military strike to a rival while effectively breaking any dense defensive barrier”.
“The development of the defence capabilities of the DPRK aiming to be a military power will be further accelerated,” Kim said, using the acronym for the North’s official name.
The launch was a message to the United States to engage in dialogue based on Pyongyang’s new game-changing technology as Trump prepares to enter the White House, analysts said.
“It sends a clear message to the Trump administration, suggesting that in order to engage in dialogue, North Korea’s strategic position must be acknowledged,” Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told AFP.
KIM’S DAUGHTER WATCHES
Images released by KCNA showed Kim observing the launch with his teenage daughter Ju Ae at an undisclosed location.
The location of the test site was also undisclosed, but images showed the missile launching from a remote piece of land surrounded by water on either side and trees stripped because of the winter cold.
Analysts said the new missile launch was concerning because it included technology to which few nations have access.
“What’s especially impressive about this technology is that … achieving such speeds requires materials that can withstand extreme conditions,” said Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
If successful, the launch means North Korea could test for extended ranges and, if it can reach between 3,000 to 5,000 kilometres, “it could threaten not only US forces in Japan but even further targets”, Yang said.
