On May 14th (Sunday) at night, North Korea confirmed that it tested a mid to long-range ballistic missile earlier in the day. According to their reports (which may be exaggerated) the missile flew 787 kilometers and reached a height of 2111.5 kilometers over 1300 miles. If this is true it would mean that if shot on a more horizontal trajectory it could easily reach the United States. Indeed the North Korean news agency announced; “The United States should know that it is in the range of our missiles.”
The Japanese army reported that the missile stayed in the air for 30 minutes, flew at about 700 km and landed in the Sea of Japan. The US Army also confirmed this and added it’s likely not an intercontinental ballistic missile and that the launch was detected at 10:30 am Hawaiian time.
The American watchdog organization ’38 North’ publicized a worrying report yesterday. The report says that North Korea has the ability to bomb the US base on Guam. The report’s conclusions claim: “North Korea’s latest successful missile test represents a level of performance never before seen from a North Korean missile. The missile would have flown a distant of some 45oo kilometers if launched on a maximum trajectory. It appears to have not only demonstrated an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that might enable them to reliably strike the US base at Guam, but more importantly, may represent a substantial advance to developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
Sunday’s test took place in the middle of a major diplomatic breakdown between North Korea and the United States and just a few days after the new South Korean president stepped into office.
It is expected that the UN Security council will convene at the request of the US, South Korea and Japan to discuss North Korea’s recent missile tests.