North Korea is boasting of a successful weekend launch of a new type of long-range ballistic missile that can carry a heavy nuclear warhead. Outsiders also saw a significant technological jump for them with the rocket flying higher and longer than any other previous missile.
The missile, launched at a steep angle, reached an altitude of 1,242 miles appearing to be able to leave and re-enter the atmosphere, which is crucial to developing intercontinental ballistic missiles. This is the longest-range missile North Korea has ever tested and the high altitude allowed North Korea to test the atmospheric re-entry vehicle under the extreme heat, pressure and vibration.
North Korea said the test-fire aimed at verifying the tactical and technological specifications of the newly developed ballistic rocket capable of carrying a large-size heavy nuclear warhead.
Experts are saying the test represents a level of performance never before seen from a North Korean missile demonstrating an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that might enable them to reliably strike the U.S. base at Guam, but more importantly, may represent a substantial advance to developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).