Hwasong-17 ICBM, hypersonic missiles in North Korea’s arsenal: Details here

In its latest firing, North Korea on Wednesday launched three missiles, including its largest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Hwasong-17, prompting the United States to call for a vote on Thursday on a UN resolution that would impose tougher sanctions against it.

The launch of multiple types of missiles came amid the country’s first confirmed Covid-19 outbreak, which UN agencies said might bring a devastating crisis for its 25 million people.

The tests show the North is committed to making technical progress on its weapons programmes, analysts say. But South Korea said the second of the three missiles fired on Wednesday, believed to be a KN-23 short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) failed mid-flight.

“Pyongyang appears to have launched different types of missiles, probably in the process of improving related military capabilities,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University.”But this also looks like a statement that the Kim Jong-un regime has many different ways of striking an adversary.”