The United States accused North Korea on Thursday March 10 of having recently tested "a new intercontinental ballistic missile system".

Pyongyang has carried out numerous missile launches since the beginning of the year, but Washington analyzed more precisely two launches, carried out on February 26 and March 4.

The United States has concluded that the two launches "involved a new intercontinental ballistic missile system that North Korea is developing, and which was originally unveiled at a parade" on October 10, according to a statement from the Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.

He said the tests were intended to "evaluate the new system" before a future "full-range launch potentially disguised as a space operation," which would end North Korea's self-imposed moratorium on testing of long-range missiles, and on nuclear testing, since 2017. 

A senior White House official called the tests a "serious escalation".

Speculations

Pyongyang had assured after these shots in late February and early March that they were satellite development tests, carried out from the Sohae base, on the northwest coast of North Korea. 

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also visited this base on Friday (local time), according to the official KCNA agency, and ordered that the facilities be extended and modernized - enough to further fuel speculation about an imminent test. and complete with long-range missile.

Penalties

Without delay, the United States will announce measures on Friday to "prevent North Korea from having access to foreign products and technologies allowing it to develop its prohibited armament programs", and "other actions will follow in the next few days," said the senior White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"The United States has decided to make this information public and to share it with our allies and partners because we prioritize strategic risk reduction and because we strongly believe that the international community must speak with one voice. to oppose future development of such weapons by North Korea," the White House official said.

"We continue to seek diplomatic dialogue and are ready for an unconditional meeting" with the North Koreans, he nevertheless added.

Washington and its partners failed at the beginning of the week to have the UN Security Council adopt a text against North Korea, which has multiplied the firing of missiles, of different ranges, butting against the opposition of Russia and from China.

Already under severe international sanctions, Pyongyang has so far rejected all offers of dialogue since the breakdown in 2019 of talks between leader Kim Jong-un and then US President Donald Trump.

And North Korea has intensified the modernization of its army, and increased the firing of missiles recently.

Analysts say Pyongyang is also looking to take advantage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine to carry out new tests as the United States focuses its attention on the conflict.

With AFP

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