North Korea apparently tested a new type of ballistic missile on Thursday. This may have been a solid-fueled medium or long-range missile, as representatives of the South Korean military told several media.

Anna Schiller

Volunteer.

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Accordingly, the missile was fired in the morning at 7.23 a.m. local time from the vicinity of the North Korean capital Pyongyang in an easterly direction. The missile is then said to have flown about 1000 kilometers before falling into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.

The inhabitants of the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido were warned with sirens, warning messages on mobile phones and information on television about the missile flying in their direction. A missile could land on or near Hokkaido, quoted the Japanese television station NHK from a communication from the authorities. The government called on people to seek protection immediately. The local rail operator suspended trains in the morning rush hour. The warning was lifted after about 30 minutes. A short time later, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida gave the all-clear. He could confirm that no missile had landed on Japanese territory.

Faster deployment missiles

For some time, observers have assumed that the authoritarian regime of dictator Kim Jong-un is researching an operational solid-propellant engine for missiles with a longer range. If North Korea is now indeed able to power long-range solid-propellant missiles, this would give the military tactical advantages. Solid-fuel rockets can already be stored filled with fuel and are faster operational than rockets that must first be filled with liquid fuel. In an emergency, this would significantly shorten the warning time.

Unspecified South Korean and American agencies have confirmed that the flight behavior of the missile is similar to that of a solid-fuel rocket, reported the South Korean news Agency Yonhap. Representatives of the government in Seoul are also said to have said that with the missile launch, the North wanted to present itself as a nuclear power shortly before the 111th birthday on Saturday of state founder Kim Il-sung, the grandfather of Kim Jong-un.

Tokyo condemned North Korea's actions. The launches of ballistic missiles "threaten the peace and security of our country and our region, as well as that of the international community," a spokesman said. They are "completely unacceptable". Japan has filed a complaint with North Korea through its embassy in Beijing. Seoul called the test a "provocative act" and called on North Korea to immediately stop any missile launches.

North Korea does not respond to calls

The spokeswoman for the National Security Council of the United States, Adrienne Watson, accused North Korea of violating United Nations Security Council resolutions with the missile launch. These prohibit North Korea from testing ballistic missiles of any range.

Since Friday last week, however, North Korea has not responded to routine calls from South Korea, according to the South Korean Unification Ministry. Normally, there are two phone calls a day between a liaison officer in Seoul and a contact person on the North Korean side. The military communication channels are also said to be affected. In the past, North Korea has ignored the calls, usually in conjunction with military escalation.

Under Kim, North Korea has massively expanded its missile and nuclear programs. The autocratic country, which has been led by a ruling dynasty since 1948, had shot down more rockets in 2022 than in any previous year. Also this year, North Korea has already fired various types of missiles.

On Monday, during a meeting of the Central Military Commission, Kim reportedly called for expanding the deterrent capabilities of the North Korean People's Army in a "more practical and offensive" way, North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency reported.