US believes North Korea tested 2 intercontinental ballistic missile systems

United States believes that North Korea has launched two tests of a new intercontinental ballistic missile system (ICBM) on February 26 and March 4, which a senior Biden ministration official described on Thursday as a "serious escalation." According to Pyongyang, two missile launches were said to be aimed at launching satellites into space. However, after furr examination, US intelligence concluded that true objective was to test components of latest ICBM, Guardian reported.

In a statement, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby stated, “Based on analysis of se launches, United States Government has concluded that se launches involved a new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) system that DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) is developing, which was originally unveiled during Korean Workers Party pare on October 10, 2020,” as per a release from US Department of Defense.  

'This is a serious escalation by DPRK': Senior US official

Furrmore,  senior US ministration official told media, “This is a serious escalation by DPRK,” Mirror reported. US believes that Pyongyang government first showcased ICBM being launched at a Workers' Party pare on October 10, 2020, and n again one year later at a defence exhibition. 

In dition to this, Kirby noted that objective of se launches, which did not indicate ICBM range, was most likely to study this new system before executing a full-range test at a later date, "potentially disguised as a space launch,” as per release. 

According to senior US official, US has conducted its review in collaboration with Japan and South Korea and will share its findings with or allies and partners, which includes United Nations. 

Japan criticised recent launches

launches were criticised by Japan's defence minister. ministry said in a statement, “North Korea’s recent actions, including se missile launches that make situation more tense, threaten peace and security of our country, region and international community.” It furr ded that his action is completely unacceptable.  

North Korea is prohibited from launching intercontinental missiles under a number of UN Security Council resolutions, according to media reports. launch in 2017 was one of a set of tests that caused n-President Donald Trump to warn North Korean officials with "fire and fury".  

Meanwhile, North Korea h conducted three intercontinental missile tests in 2017 and six nuclear weapons tests in total before pausing both forms of testing ahe of Trump's meetings. Pyongyang furr declared in January that it would consider resuming "all temporarily suspended activities," and observers have spotted traces of building at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site. 

(Image: AP)