N. Korea leader hints at more missile launches
This photo distributed Wednesday by the North Korean government shows the test launch of a Hwasong-12 intermediate range missile in Pyongyang the previous day. / Yonhap
By Park Si-soo
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for more missiles to target the Pacific, following the launch of a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan the previous day.
Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim supervised the launch of the Hwasong-12 missile, which it said crossed over Japan to hit a preset target area in the northern Pacific.
The agency said the launch was in retaliation to the Ulchi Freedom Guardian joint military drills between the United States and South Korea.
Kim demanded more ballistic rocket-launching drills with the Pacific as a target, the KCNA said.
Kim expressed “great satisfaction”' with the launch, calling it a “meaningful prelude” to containing Guam, and vowed to watch U.S. “demeanors” before the North decided on its next steps.