North Korea (North Korea) is believed to be preparing to launch a ballistic missile. The preparation for the missile launch coincides with a joint military exercise between the United States (US) with South Korea (ROK), its allies.
A number of satellite images showed ballistic missiles being loaded into launch vehicles and taken out of nearby hangars near the capital, reported a local newspaper, Donga Ilbo, quoting South Korean government sources as saying on Saturday (14/10/2017) Pyongyang and in the province of North Phyongan.
According to Donga Ilbo, US and South Korean military officials suspect North Korea is preparing to launch missiles capable of reaching US territory
The alleged North Korea will launch a Hwasong-14 missile which is a type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching Alaska or Hwasong-12 missiles that are medium-range missiles. In August, North Korea threatened to fire missiles at Guam, the US territory in the Pacific Ocean.
Alternatively, call Donga Ilbo, North Korea may be preparing to test a new type of ICBM missile named Hwasong-13. The new type of missile is thought to have further range than the other two types of missiles. It is estimated, Hwasong-13 missiles will be able to reach the US West Coast.
When asked for feedback about Donga Ilbo's report, the South's defense ministry declined to comment. "We do not comment on military intelligence," said a press secretary for South Korea's defense ministry. "We keep a close to watch on the North," he added.
The United States and South Korea will hold a joint Navy training from October 16 to 26. The combined military exercises will be deployed in the East Sea or the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea. The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and two US destroyers will participate in the exercises together with South Korean military vessels.
This exercise will be a showcase of the latest forces in North Korea related to its nuclear and missile programs. It is known that joint military exercises always angered the North. The North's authority sees such exercises as an invasion exercise into their territory. Though the US has confirmed this exercise purely for defense purposes.
In his analysis, Professor Yang Moo-Jin of the University of North Korean Studies called 'likely' North Korea will hold a missile launch in response to a joint US-South Korean exercise next week.
