North Korea’s missiles can hit US, new tests reveal as Hwasong-12 branded success
A MISSILE launched by North Korea has been confirmed as powerful enough to strike the US escalating tensions between the two countries.
By REBECCA FLOOD
Express.co.uk
Sun, May 21, 2017
The ballistic missile fired by the secretive regime earlier this month has been hailed as a breakthrough for Pyongyang’s capabilities.
North Korea claimed the liquid fuel Hwasong-12 missile reached an altitude of 1,312 miles, breaching Japan’s Air Defence Identification Zone.
It landed in the sea of Japan some 489 miles from where it blasted off.
And now South Korean and US officials have confirmed it was a success, and would have been capable of reaching American soil.
The missile took an arch-shape trajectory – parabolic – to test its resilience against re-entry into the atmosphere.
North Korean officials claimed the missile came through “the worst re-entry situation” and hit its target.
That was later backed up by South Korea, who analysed data from North Korea’s missile control centre.
They revealed the missile, capable of carrying a “large size, heavy nuclear warhead”, survived temperatures of 5,000c and extreme vibration on re-entry.
US officials also confirmed the launch was a success.
The despotic regime is thought to have mastered long-guidance and control capabilities, but re-entry and miniaturising a warhead were thought to be remaining obstacles.
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