North Korea says it is a “responsible nuclear power” as it tests a new missile. What next?

By Arinjoy Chaudhury

North Korea said it successfully tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Wednesday. It is a “breakthrough” that puts the U.S. mainland within the range of its nuclear weapons whose warheads could withstand re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.

Missile testing in North Korea

North Korea’s first missile test since mid-September came a week after U.S. President Donald Trump put North Korea back on a U.S. list of countries it says support terrorism. Thus, allowing it to impose more sanctions. North Korea also conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test in September. It has tested dozens of ballistic missiles under its leader, Kim Jong Un, in defiance of international sanctions. The latest was the highest and longest any North Korean missile had flown, landing in the waters near Japan. North Korea said the new missile reached an altitude of about 4,475 km (2,780 miles) – more than 10 times the height of the International Space Station – and flew 950 km (590 miles) during its 53-minute flight.

The new warhead

“After watching the successful launch of the new type ICBM Hwasong-15, Kim Jong Un declared with pride that now we have finally realised the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force, the cause of building a rocket power,” according to a statement read by a Pyongyang state television presenter. State media said the missile was launched from a newly developed vehicle. It also said that the warhead could withstand the pressure of re-entering the atmosphere. Kim personally guided the missile test and said the new launcher was “impeccable“, state media said. He described the new vehicle as a “breakthrough“.

A defensive strategy

North Korea also described itself as a “responsible nuclear power”, saying its strategic weapons were developed to defend itself from “the U.S. imperialists’ nuclear blackmail policy and nuclear threat”. The U.N. Security Council was scheduled to meet on Wednesday to discuss the launch. Many nuclear experts say the North has yet to prove it has mastered all technical hurdles. This includes the ability to deliver a heavy nuclear warhead reliably atop an ICBM, but it was likely that it soon would.

Reactions to the new test

“We don’t have to like it, but we’re going to have to learn to live with North Korea’s ability to target the United States with nuclear weapons,” said Jeffrey Lewis, head of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of Strategic Studies. U.S., Japanese and South Korean officials all agreed the missile, which landed within Japan’s exclusive economic zone, was likely an ICBM. The test did not pose a threat to the United States, its territories or allies, the Pentagon said.

“It went higher, frankly than any previous shot they’ve taken, a research and development effort on their part to continue building ballistic missiles that can threaten everywhere in the world, basically,” U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters at the White House. Trump spoke over the phone with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-In, with all three reaffirming their commitment to combat the North Korean threat. “It is a situation that we will handle,” Trump told reporters.

Trump, who was briefed on the missile while it was in flight, said it did not change his administration’s approach to North Korea. The approach includes new curbs to hurt trade between China and North Korea. Abe and Moon, in a separate telephone call, said they would “no longer tolerate” North Korea’s increasing threats. The South’s presidential office said that they would tighten sanctions.

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