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North Korean media reported that North Korea test-fired a new long-range cruise missile last weekend. It is revealed that the range is 1,500 km, so it seems that not only South Korea but also Japan are within range.
Reporter Ahn Jung-sik reports.
[Reporter]
North Korea has conducted a test-fire of a new long-range cruise missile, the Rodong Sinmun reported.
The Rodong Sinmun reported that the North Korean Defense Academy successfully conducted a test-fire of a new long-range cruise missile that was newly developed on the 11th and yesterday.
The new long-range cruise missile hit a target 1,500 km along the flight trajectory set in North Korea, and flew for 7,580 seconds, 2 hours and 6 minutes, North Korea said.
If a North Korean cruise missile flew 1,500 km, it would be within range of not only South Korea but also Japan.
North Korea said that the test launch was observed by Park Jeong-chun, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, and Kim Jong-sik and Jeon Il-ho, deputy heads of the Party Central Committee.
North Korea said that the test has strategic significance as it possesses another effective deterrent to strongly suppress the anti-North Korean military activities of hostile forces.
The Ministry of National Defense said it was analyzing North Korea's missile launch in close cooperation between South Korea and the US intelligence authorities.
In a statement from the Indo-Pacific Command, the US criticized North Korea as posing a threat to neighboring countries and the international community.