North Korea claims it successfully tested its new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-19, state media reported on Nov. 1. The ruling Workers’ Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, said leader Kim Jong-un ordered the Oct. 31 launch and personally supervised the test.
According to the report, the missile reached a peak altitude of 7,687.5 kilometers (4,776 miles) and traveled 1,001.2 kilometers (622 miles) over a flight time of 5,156 seconds, or about 1 hour and 25 minutes, before landing in designated waters in the East Sea. Rodong Sinmun called the launch a “new benchmark” for North Korea’s missile capabilities and an “unequivocal display of the modernity and reliability” of the country’s strategic deterrence force, which it described as “the world’s most powerful.”
The newspaper added that the Hwasong-19 will operate alongside the Hwasong-18 ICBM as part of the nation’s nuclear force goals set by the Party Congress. The report described the Hwasong-19 as a “core nuclear deterrent” aimed at defending the country and deterring potential threats.
Kim was accompanied by his daughter, Ju-ae, at the launch site, where they observed the test together. Photos published by state media showed Ju-ae in attendance. Kim reportedly said the successful launch reaffirmed North Korea’s “irreversible supremacy” in nuclear delivery capabilities, strengthening its position on the global stage.
Calling the test an “essential step” in advancing North Korea’s strategic forces, Kim reiterated that the country’s commitment to its nuclear development remains steadfast and “will not change under any circumstances.”
