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North Korea has indicated that it will be able to fire intercontinental ballistic missiles at normal angles in the future.

So far, they have been firing at an elevated angle to fall in close proximity, but now they can shoot toward the Pacific Ocean.



Ahn Jung-sik is a reporter specializing in North Korea.



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North Korea hinted at the possibility of launching an ICBM at a normal angle in a statement in the name of Kim Yo-jong, Vice Minister of the Workers' Party of Korea.



Referring to our point that the high-angle launch cannot prove the ICBM's atmospheric re-entry technology, he said about the normal-angle launch, "We will see it soon."



North Korea has launched several ICBMs in the past, but all of them were launched at high angles into the East Sea.



Unlike high-angle launches, which rise and fall close to vertical, normal-angle launches have a high probability of bouncing off the warhead as it passes through the atmosphere, limiting the validation of reentry techniques with high-angle launches.



[Jang Young-geun/Aeronautical University Professor: The angle of re-entry into the atmosphere is very important.

Depending on the angle of re-entry, the warhead may not be able to enter and simply bounce off the atmosphere.]



After all, in order to fully demonstrate ICBM capabilities, launching at a normal angle is essential, which means that ICBMs with a range of more than 10,000 km will actually be launched into the Pacific Ocean, etc. .



[Lim Su-seok/Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson: It is very regrettable that North Korea is threatening additional provocations such as launching ICBM summit angles.]



It can be seen as a simple bluff, but it seems difficult to just ignore it, considering that reentry technology verification is a mountain that must eventually be overcome to complete ICBM, and that Kim Yeo-jung is the closest aide representing Kim Jong-un's intentions.



Kim Yeo-jung said, "Is there anything that North Korea failed to do in the statement?" She hinted at the possibility of actual action.



She will decide whether or not to actually act by watching the development of the situation, but she cannot completely rule out the possibility of North Korea launching ICBMs into the Pacific Ocean and other areas.



(Video coverage: Park Young-il, Video editing: Park Ki-duk)



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