North Korea (North Korea) launched its largest ballistic missile test, Hwasong 12. The moment even penetrated outer space and photographed the spherical earth.
The missile is estimated to be able to fly to an altitude of 2,000 km, fly safely 30 minutes, or cover about 800 km.
This makes the Hwasong 12 the largest ballistic missile in the last four years launched by the Communist country. Lastly, ballistic missiles in November 2017 were able to reach a maximum altitude of 4,500 km.
People watch a TV showing images of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. North Korea confirmed Monday it test-launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam, the North's most significant weapon launch in years, as Washington plans to respond to demonstrate it's committed to its allies' security in the region. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) Photo: AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon
The state newspaper Rodong Sinmun, as quoted by Space, Wednesday (2/2/2022) revealed that the ballistic missile test was declared successful.
In fact, North Korea released a photo of the altitude range of Hwasong 12 which shows the Earth is round as seen from space.
"It has been confirmed the accuracy, safety and effectiveness of the operation of the Hwasong 12 which is currently being produced," said Rodong Sinmun.
The test launch of the Hwasong 12 ballistic missile on Sunday (30/1) local time then landed in the Pacific Ocean, to be precise east of North Korea.
The test was the seventh ballistic missile test carried out by North Korea this January. Earlier, the country led by Kim Jong Un launched a hypersonic rocket, a vehicle it claims can be more maneuverable and harder to track and intercept than traditional ballistic missiles.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the missile launch this time was carried out in such a way as to ensure the safety of neighboring countries.
"The test-firing inspection was carried out for the purpose of selectively checking the medium-range, long-range, surface-to-ground type Hwasong-12 ballistic missile and verifying the accuracy of all these weapons systems," the North's state news agency KCNA reported.
North Korea has claimed the Hwasong-12 can carry "large-sized heavy nuclear warheads". Meanwhile, observers estimate North Korea's IRBM missiles have a range of up to 4,500 kilometers.