Additional Coverage:
US Flies Bomber in Response to North Korea Missile Test
The United States, along with South Korea and Japan, conducted a joint military exercise on Sunday. This followed North Korea’s recent launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the US mainland.
North Korea launched the Hwasong-19 ICBM on Thursday, its first test in nearly a year. Leader Kim Jong Un ordered the launch to demonstrate the country’s readiness to counter threats to its safety.
The missile flew at a higher altitude and for a longer duration than any previous North Korean missile. In response, the US deployed a B-1B bomber to conduct training exercises with South Korean and Japanese fighter jets.
This trilateral exercise is the second of its kind this year. The US often responds to North Korean missile tests by deploying military assets to the region. North Korea typically condemns such actions as part of a US-led plot against it.
Despite advancements in its missile program, experts believe North Korea still faces technical challenges in developing ICBMs capable of delivering nuclear strikes on the US. The Hwasong-19, as depicted in official media, appears too large for practical use in warfare.
The ICBM test is seen as an attempt to draw attention ahead of the US presidential election and counter criticism over reports of North Korean troops being sent to Russia to aid in the Ukraine conflict. North Korea’s last ICBM launch was in December 2023, involving the solid-fueled Hwasong-18.