North Korean Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missiles in military parade (File)
Washington, United States:
A US official said on Sunday that it was “disappointing” that North Korea presented a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during a military parade in Pyongyang, as denuclearization negotiations between the two countries remain in the air. ‘dead end.
Chief Kim Jong Un watched the massive ICBM roll through Pyongyang at the culmination of an unprecedented nighttime parade on Saturday, weeks before the US election.
“It is disappointing to see the DPRK (North Korea) continue to prioritize its banned nuclear and ballistic missile program,” said a US official.
“The United States remains guided by the vision that President Trump and President Kim laid out in Singapore (in 2018) and calls on the DPRK to engage in sustained and substantive negotiations to achieve full denuclearization.”
Analysts said it was the largest liquid-fueled mobile road missile in the world and was likely designed to carry multiple warheads in independent reentry vehicles (MIRVs).
The ICBM was proof that the North had continued to build up its arsenal throughout the diplomatic process, analysts said, and could give Pyongyang more leverage to demand a return to the negotiating table.
The missile – which may have been a mock-up – was carried on a huge, previously invisible 11-axle transporter-assembler-launcher, much larger than the Chinese-made eight-axle vehicles the North has employed so far.
Nuclear negotiations between Trump and Kim have been deadlocked since their Hanoi summit collapsed early last year over sanctions relief and what the North would be willing to give up in return.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
