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South Korean military experts comment on Pyongyang ICBM launch

The experts consider that Hwasong-14 is a modified version of KN-17 missile

© AP Photo/Lee Jin-man

SEOUL, July 5. /TASS/. Experts of South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense believe that North Korea tested an intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday.

"Given such flight characteristics as the altitude, range, speed, duration and also stage separation, North Korea’s Hwasong-14 launched on July 4 belongs to a type of intercontinental ballistic missiles," the experts said in a statement issued after a meeting of a parliamentary committee on defense issues.

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Expert sees Pyongyang’s new missile launch as game-changer in US-North Korean relations

The experts consider that Hwasong-14 is a modified version of KN-17 missile (designated by North Korea as Hwasong-12). The key reason to describe Hwasong-14 as an intercontinental ballistic missile is that its flight range reaches more than 5,500 km. The missile was fired from a fixed launch pad.

South Korea’s Defense Minister Han Min-goo warned on Wednesday that Pyongyang may soon carry out a new nuclear test, stressing that North Korea has successfully "miniaturized" nuclear warheads and can install them on ballistic missiles.

"If the North Korean regime continues reckless military provocations, it will face the toughest international sanctions and in the final end will destroy itself," the minister said. South Korea and the United States are carefully watching Pyongyang’s further steps and are preparing to "give a decisive response to new provocations."

TENSIONS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA

On Tuesday, North Korea’s television announced the first successful launch of the Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile reached an altitude of 2,802 kilometers and flew 933 kilometers within 39 minutes. The missile launch was ordered by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Monday.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the North Korean missile could be a medium-range one, because it rose to the altitude of 535 km, way below the declared 2,802 kilometers, and covered the distance of about 510 kilometers. The US Department of Defense also published similar figures.

North Korea has so far carried out five nuclear tests, including two of them last year.

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The Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson stressed that "US steps are posing a major threat to security and stability of regional players"

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In this regard, Sergey Shoigu mentioned the operation that Tehran carried out "in retaliation for a blatant attack on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus"

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West prepares puppet structures in case of coup in Belarus — KGB

Ivan Tertel said various methods were being considered, up to "instigating a forceful seizure by illegal armed groups" being trained in the West and Ukraine

ATACMS shipment proves ‘Zelensky’s formula’ needed in US as ‘smoke and mirrors’ — diplomat

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Russian diplomat accuses US of coordinating Ukraine’s terrorist attacks

Earlier, US President Joe Biden signed a package of bills approved by Congress, which total some $95 bln and include about $61 bln to help Ukraine and $26 bln to support Israel

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

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Russian troops destroy 89 Ukrainian UAVs, 5 boats in Kherson area over past day

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Global community condemns use of terrorists in geopolitical struggle — Russian official

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev noted that the heads of foreign delegations expressed sincere condolences to the Russian people over the casualties of the attack on a concert hall outside Moscow

Armenian police arrests people protesting against demarcation with Azerbaijan

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