Watch: North Korea Launches Missile That Doesn’t Immediately Explode

Sometime over the weekend, North Korea finally managed to launch a missile that didn’t immediately explode. The country’s state newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, posted an elaborate spread Monday showing photos of the launch along with a smiling Kim Jong Un celebrating with military officers, Reuters reported.

North Korean state media also released video of the launch, which swiftly ricocheted around the world. Unlike multiple past attempts at a missile launch, the medium to long range missile featured in the video was successfully fired and represents a significant technical advance for the reclusive Communist nation. The missile flew 430 miles before crashing into the ocean.

“The concerning thing to Pentagon officials was its arch, it’s altitude,” said NBC Pentagon correspondent Hans Nichols on MSNBC. “It went up so high and that gives you a sense that maybe the North Koreans achieved re-entry into the atmosphere. That’s why they’re taking this very seriously here.”

Decades of talks have so far failed to stem the growth of North Korea’s nuclear program. The country has conducted multiple successful nuclear tests since 2005 despite crippling international sanctions and a concerted U.S. cyber campaign to disrupt their operations.

The weekend missile launch will no doubt stoke fears in Washington of the regime’s growing ability to deliver nuclear content through the use of intercontinental ballistic missiles. In the past, President Trump has warned of “major, major conflict” with the country if the nuclear program continued.

Watch above

[image via screengrab]

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