Seoul/Tokyo, Date: 22nd – North Korea has successfully tested ‘Musudan’ the mid-range ballistic missile on Wednesday. Though the last 5 tests conducted by North Korea in the past 2 months have been unsuccessful. It is reported that on Wednesday the one of the test missile was directed towards Japan and traveled a distance of nearly 400 kilometres. This success has increased the threat for Japan and South Korea while Russia too has raised its concerns over it.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un from the start of this year has taken an aggressive stand against western countries, and has frequently warned of attacking the US, Japan and South Korea.
Earlier this year the success of its nuclear test and long-range rocket launch conducted by North Korea had raised serious concerns worldwide. These successful tests indicate the level of progress North Korea has made to strengthen its nuclear weapon development program.
After these successful tests North Korea had claimed to build and test long-range missiles to target Japan, South Korea and the US. ‘Musudan’ is considered to be one of these mid-range ballistic missiles. North Korea had demonstrated this missile in one of their military parades in the year 2010. But no tests were performed of this missile in the last 6 years.
Apparently a few months back North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had commanded his military officials and scientists to work on the development program of this missile after which the tests for ‘Musudan’ were launched in April.
But the three tests conducted in April and the one in June proved to be a failure. On Wednesday, two back to back missile tests were carried within two hours from each other.
In the first, test the missile was directed at South Korea but was a failure. This missile is reported to have exploded after traveling a distance of around 150 kilometers. It was detected by both South Korea and Japan. A couple of hours later another test of ‘Musudan’ was again carried in which the missile was directed at Japan. The missile is reported to have successfully covered a distance of around 400 kilometers. Japan’s Defense Ministry has confirmed that ‘Musudan’ reached an altitude exceeding 1,000 kilometers. After this successful test Japan’s Defense Ministry has recognized North Korea’s ‘level of capability’ posing an increasing threat to the Japanese territory. After this test Japan believes, North Korea has proved its strength in ballistic missile capabilities.
Despite international sanctions these tests carried out by North Korea have raised the level of threat in the Korean peninsula in-particular and in Asia-Pacific in-general.
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